Suirfoish  OlsRfl&y 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 


'The  noble  steeds  flew  along  nor  needed  at  all  the 
scourge  of  the  charioteer." 


IN  THE  GATES 
OF  THE  NORTH 


BY 

STANDISH  O'GRADY 

Author  of 

"THE  COMINO  OPCUCUI.AIN" 

"THE  TRIUMPH  AND  PASSING  OF  CCCCLAIN" 

"TUK  FLIGHT  OF  THE  XAGLB" 

ETC. 


NEW    YORK: 
FREDERICK   A.   STOKES   COMPANY 

PUBLISHERS 


Printed  at 

TUB  TALBOT  FRESS,  LTD. 

89  Talbot  Street 

Dublin 


Colleg* 

Library 

PR. 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

INTRODUCTION           •           •           -           -  v. 

CHAPTER 

I.    THE  PURPOSE  OF  MEAVE    -  -      1 

II.    THE  HOSTING  -      8 

III.  THE  PROPHET  OF  MOY  TURA  -    14 

IV.  ONLY  A  MAN  -    26 
V.    THE  SUNGER  -    42 

VI.    ETERCOMAL'S  FOLI.Y  AND  DEATH  -  -    49 

VII.    FIGHTINGS  AT  THE  FORD    -  -    58 

VIII.    THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  RED  BRANCH    -    64 

IX.    MEAVE  AND  HER  COMPANIONS  -    78 

X.    DEATH  OF  FIREBA  LARNA  -    89 

XL    LOK  MAC  FAVASH    -  -  105 

XII.    THE  TEMPTATION  OF  FARDIA  -  114 

XIII.  A  SUNDERED  FRIENDSHIP  -  -  134 

XIV.  LAEG             .           -                       -  -  148 
XV.    A  PIONEER   -           -                       -  -  158 


2060791 


INTRODUCTION 


I  KNEW  a  man  who  delighted  much  to  express 
himself  with  a  certain  amplitude  and  stateliness 
of  diction,  and  rejoiced  greatly  when  his  words 
seemed  to  strike  the  ear  with  a  sound  like  the 
measured  tread  of  marching  men.  Once,  in 
his  sonorous  manner,  he  wrote  some  large  sen- 
tences concerning  Irish  History  in  general,  of 
the  relations  of  Irish  heroic  legend  with  the 
same,  and  of  both  with  our  country's  still  ob- 
scure, uncertain,  and  untravelled  future — 
sentences  which  I  propose  to  use  here  by  way  of 
preface  or  prelude  to  the  heroic,  romantic,  and 
semi-historic  Irish  tale  which  I  am  about  to 
tell.  It  is  one  which,  perhaps,  if  I  do  not  hope 
too  much  may  be  found  prophetic  as  well 
as  commemorative,  and  to  belong  as  much  to 
the  future  as  to  the  past. 

'  There  is,"  he  writes,  "  a  pleasure  in  watching 
the  reclamation  of   desert    land — the    choking 


vi  INTRODUCTION 

moisture  drained  away,  the  sour  peat  mingled 
with  sand,  the  stones  collected  into  heaps,  the 
making  of  roads,  and  the  building  of  fences,  and 
in  the  end,  the  sight  of  cornfields  where  the  snipe 
shrieked,  and  herds  of  kine  where  the  morass 
quaked. 

"  There  is  a  pleasure  in  watching  the  dis- 
persion of  darkness  before  the  rising  sun,  the 
darkness  melting  slowly  into  the  silver  twilight, 
the  twilight  ripening  gradually  into  the  golden 
day. 

"  There  is  a  pleasure  in  watching  with  the 
scientist  the  subsidence  and  concentration  of 
some  vast  primordial  chaos  into  a  shape  of 
celestial  beauty,  fulfilling  its  part  in  some  sidereal 
system,  rolling  through  space  around  its  sun, 
clear  and  determinate,  a  world  and  a  star. 

"  But  there  is  a  pleasure,  deeper,  keener, 
more  human,  and  more  sublime,  felt  by  one  who 
contemplates  out  of  the  savage  and  semi-casual 
collisions  of  hostile  tribes  the  slow  growth  of 
a  noble  people,  the  reclamation  of  a  vast  human 
wilderness,  seeing  how  the  stormful  gloom  of 
mutual  ignorance  and  hatred  grows  less  and  less 
dense,  shot  through  by  the  rays  of  knowledge, 
imagination,  and  love  ;  how  the  chaos  of  aimless 
strugglings  and  half-understood  purposes  con- 


INTRODUCTION  Vll 

centres  gradually  into  the  wise  and  determined 
action  of  a  nation  fulfilling  its  part  in  the  great 
confraternity  of  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

"  But  for  the  historian  of  Ireland  no  such 
delightful  task  is  reserved  ;  not  for  him  to  trace 
the  courses  of  the  many  converging  springs  and 
rivulets  in  the  mountains,  to  mark  how  they 
unite,  and,  uniting,  form  the  strong  undivided 
current  of  the  history  of  a  Nation  rolling  forward 
between  its  firm  shores,  freighted  with  the 
destinies  of  one  people  ;  not  for  him  to  limn  the 
low,  glorious  growth  of  a  nation,  great  or  small, 
but  a  nation.  Beginnings,  ever  still  beginnings, 
noble  actions  without  end,  that  shine  and 
vanish,  characters  as  great  as  any,  but  resultless, 
movements  full  of  hope  leading  no-whither, 
flashing  glories  ever  dimmed  and  blasted,  travail 
and  labour  unceasing,  expectation  and  resolution 
ever  baffled  ;  through  all  the  centuries  Ireland 
labouring  to  bring  forth  the  Irish  Nation,  and 
that  nation  yet  unborn.  '  Tantae  molis  erat 
Romanam  condere  Gentem.' 

'  Yet,  too,  how  much  has  been  gained,  what 
public  crimes  and  sins  avoided,  by  a  birth  post- 
poned into  a  time  when,  however  dimly,  the  true 
ideal  of  nations  is  beginning  to  be  understood, 
and  their  rights  and  duties  to  be  prescribed  in 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION 

accordance  with  the  decrees  of  a  conscience,  which 
ceases  more  and  more  to  be  merely  National  and 
tends  more  and  more  to  become  Planetary. 
When  Ireland  at  last  emerges,  standing  ou:  clear 
on  the  world's  horizon,  her  conscience  will  be 
Irish  indeed — that  will  never  fail — but  it  will  be 
also  the  conscience  of  the  Earth.  None  can 
hate  her,  none  ever  will,  or  can.  Because  of  her 
own  millennium-enduring  tragedy  she  will  love 
this  suffering  world,  and  because  of  her  sufferings, 
her  patience,  her  faith,  her  hope,  and  her  heroic 
and  unconquerable  resolve,  the  world  will  love 
her. 

"  But,"  he  continues,  "  if  our  history  is  a 
disappointment,  supplying  to  the  patriot  scant 
material  for  pride  or  hope,  so  are  not  our  legends. 
In  these,  when  read  with  sympathy  and  under- 
standing, the  student  finds  himself  in  vital  union 
with  some  unimagined  greatness  of  thought, 
fulness  of  feeling,  and  amplitude  of  soul,  becomes 
conscious  of  something  that  seems  to  suggest 
the  mighty  destiny,  the  cosmic  significance, 
the  daring  and  indomitable,  far-reaching,  and 
far-aspiring  spirit  of  the  Gael. 

"  A  nation's  history,"  he  adds,  "  is  made  for 
it  to  a  greater  degree  than  men  suspect  by  the 
Genius  of  the  Earth,  and  influences  emanating 


INTRODUCTION  IX 

from  a  certain  irresistible  and  predestined  pro- 
cession of  mundane  events  ;  but  their  legends 
they  make  for  themselves.  To  that  dim  twilight 
region,  where  day  and  night  are  as  one,  the  im- 
mortal and  divine  soul,  stained  and  tired  by 
contact  with  the  vulgarity  of  actual  things, 
returns  for  rest  and  recuperation,  and  there 
sleeping,  projects  its  dreams  against  the  waning 
night  and  before  the  rising  of  the  sun.  The 
legends  give  us  the  imagination  of  the  race, 
they  give  us  that  kind  of  history  which  it  intends 
to  exhibit,  and  therefore,  whether  semi-historical 
or  mythical,  are  prophetic.  They  unveil,  if 
obscurely,  the  ideals  and  aspirations  of  the  land 
and  race  which  gave  them  birth,  and  so  possess 
a  value  far  beyond  that  of  actual  events,  and 
duly  recorded  deeds.  Our  heroic  literature  is 
bound  to  repeat  itself  in  action  and  within  the 
constraining  laws  of  time  and  space  and  the 
physical  world.  For  that  prophecy  has  been 
always,  and  will  be  always  fulfilled.  The  heroes 
are  coming,  of  that  you  may  be  sure  ;  their 
advent  is  as  certain  as  time.  Listen  well  and 
you  may  hear  them,  hear  their  glad  talk  and 
their  sounding  war  songs,  and  the  music  and 
thunder  of  their  motion.  The  heroes  are  com- 
ing ;  they  are  on  the  road. 


X  INTRODUCTION 

"  Or,  if  we  must  consider  this  our  semi- 
mythical  heroic  age,  from  a  more  mundane  and 
entirely  rational  point  of  view,  here  at  least 
is  food  for  the  never-sated,  imperious,  and  domi- 
neering imagination.  Our  history,  if  elsewhere 
verifiable,  and  dead  and  gray,  is  here  at  least 
full  of  action,  full  of  passion,  full  of  light,  full 
of  colour,  full  of  outline  and  form,  human  in 
every  fibre,  and  instinct  with  an  abounding 
vitality,  individuality,  and  power.  There  are 
ages  upon  ages  in  Irish  history,  Anglo-Irish, 
Norman-Irish,  epochs  of  the  Duv-Gall  and  Fin- 
Gall,  etc.,  etc.,  but  none  else  like  that  which  is 
least  authentic,  and  yet,  in  a  sense,  the  most 
authentic  of  them  all,  the  Age  of  the  Heroes. 

"  Here,  if  never  elsewhere,  we  are  permitted 
to  see  majestic  shapes  of  kings  and  queens, 
chieftains  and  brehons,  and  bards,  splendidly 
attired.  How  they  gleam  in  the  large  rich 
light  shed  abroad  over  the  triumphant  progress 
of  the  legendary  tale.  We  see  duns,  snow-white, 
with  roofs  striped  crimson  and  blue,  chariots 
cushioned  with  noble  skins,  with  bright  bronze 
wheels  and  silver  poles  and  yokes.  The  lively- 
hearted  resolute  steeds  gallop  past,  bearing  the 
warrior  and  his  charioteer,  with  the  loud  clan- 
gour of  rattling  armature,  of  battle  stones,  of 


INTRODUCTION  xi 

spears  and  darts.  As  in  some  bright  young  dawn, 
over  the  dewy  grass,  and  in  the  light  of  the  rising 
sun,  superhuman  in  size  and  beauty,  their  long 
yellow  hair  curling  over  their  shoulders,  bound 
around  the  neck  with  tores  of  gold,  clad  in  white 
linen  tunics  and  floating  brattas  of  crimson  silk 
fastened  on  the  breast  by  huge  wheel  brooches 
of  gold,  their  long  spears  musical  with  running 
rings,  with  naked  knees  and  bare  crowns,  they 
cluster  round  their  kings,  the  chieftains  and 
knights  of  the  heroic  age  of  Ireland. 

"  And  so  it  happens  that  these  men  of  the  ages 
pronounced  mythical  by  the  wise,  Cuculain,  and 
Lseg,  and  his  brothers,  and  Conall,  and  Con- 
cobar,  and  a  score  of  others,  have  never  suffered 
death  at  all,  but  are  very  strong  and  well  as  I 
write,  yet  what  millions  upon  millions  within  the 
historical  ages  are  to-day  as  non-apparent  as 
last  year's  snow.  And  so  it  comes  to  pass  that 
Ozymandias,  King  of  Kings,  is  quite  dead,  while 
Cuculain  is  alive." 

Now  this  may  be  all  very  well  for  those  who, 
like  the  writer,  have  so  steeped  themselves  in  the 
atmosphere  of  our  Irish  heroic  literature  that 
the  very  names,  uncouth  and  discordant  to 
others,  sound  on  their  ears  like  music,  or  shine  with 
a  radiance  like  the  stars.  But  I  must  warn 


Xli  INTRODUCTION 

those  who  endeavour  to  read  the  ensuing  tale, 
i.e.,  "  In  the  Gates  of  the  North,"  that  even  if 
they  afterwards  learn  to  like  it — and  I  know 
very  well  that  some  will — they  must  be  prepared, 
in  the  beginning,  to  read  it  like  a  task,  and  pursue 
it  at  least  through  some  initial  chapters  as  if  it 
were  a  severe  mental  exercise  ;  so  remote  and 
unusual  is  the  plane  of  thought  and  emotion, 
so  unfamiliar  the  point  of  view,  so  strange  are 
the  characters  and  their  manners  and  surround- 
ings, while  the  very  style  is  so  different  from  that 
which  is  in  common  use  to-day.  But  at  the 
same  time  I  will  say  that  those  who  instinctively, 
or  by  resolute  study,  learn  to  like  this  grand  old 
story  of  how  Cuculain,  son  of  Sualtam,  though 
alone  and  forsaken,  and  encompassed  by  thou- 
sands of  enemies,  held  the  "  Gates  of  the  North  " 
against  a  host  of  invaders,  and,  like  a  true  cham- 
pion and  patriot,  spent  himself — his  youth, 
energy,  blood,  and  young  enthusiasm — in  de- 
fence of  his  native  land  and  his  own  otherwise 
defenceless  people — they,  I  say,  who  read  and 
like  this  tale  will  never  like  it  by  halves.  They 
will  like  it  well,  and  never  forget  it  if  they  like 
it  at  all ;  and  of  how  few  modern  novels,  even 
the  most  brilliant  and  most  graphic,  can  this  be 
truly  said.  I  pledge  my  word  that  it  is  so. 


INTRODUCTION  xiii 

Read  the  story,  even  at  the  cost  of  a  little 
strenuous  mental  exercise,  and  take  my  word 
for  it  that  this  strange  tale,  though  half  in  and 
half  out  of  the  world,  will  abide  with  you  to  the 
last  day  that  you  live,  and  will  be  always  re- 
garded by  you  as  a  great  intellectual  treasure 
stored  away  in  the  deep  places  and  guarded 
recesses  of  the  soul.  For  it  is  a  great  tale,  one 
of  the  greatest  in  the  whole  world. 

And  I  can  afford  to  say  this,  for  the  tale,  all 
this  is  good  in  it,  is  not  mine,  but  has  come  to 
me  as  a  tradition  and  legacy  of  our  ancestors, 
the  great  singers  and  narrators  of  old  time.  In 
that  tale  will  be  found  the  story  of  Cuculain's 
manhood.  Elsewhere  I  have  told  the  story  of 
his  birth,  childhood,  and  boyhood,  in  a  book 
called  "  The  Coming  of  Cuculain." 

STANDISH  O'GRADY. 


In  the  Gates  of  the  North 


CHAPTER  I 

THE  PURPOSE  OF  MEAVE 

QUEEN  MEAVE  summoned  to  her  to  Rath- 
Cruhane  all  her  captains  and  counsellors  and 
tributary  kings.  They  came  at  once  according 
as  they  had  been  commanded  by  the  word  of  her 
mouth.  When  they  were  assembled,  Meave, 
from  her  high  throne  canopied  with  shining 
bronze,  addressed  them.  She  was  a  woman 
of  great  stature,  beautiful  and  of  a  pure  com- 
plexion, her  eyes  large  and  full  and  blue-grey 
in  colour,  her  hair  dense  and  long  and  of  a 
lustrous  yellow.  A  tiara  of  solid  gold  encircled 
her  head,  and  a  torque  of  gold  her  white  neck. 
Her  mantle  of  scarlet  silk,  very  fine,  was  gathered 
over  her  ample  bosom  in  the  ard-regal  brooch 
of  the  high  sovereignty  of  Connaught.  In  her 


2  IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

right  hand  she  bore  a  long  spear  with  a  broad 
blade  of  shining  bronze.  Her  shield-bearer 
stood  behind  the  throne.  On  her  right  hand 
stood  her  husband  ;  on  her  left  Fergus  Mac  Roy, 
captain  of  her  guards.  Her  voice,  as  she  spoke, 
was  full,  clear,  and  musical,  and  rang  through  the 
vast  hall. 

"It  is  known  to  you  all,"  she  said,  "  that 
there  is  not  in  Banba,  nor  yet  in  the  whole 
world,  so  far  report  speaks  truly,  a  woman  more 
excellent  than  myself.  I  am  the  best,  and  the 
most  powerful,  and  the  most  famous,  and  the 
best-born.  My  father  was  the  High  King  of  all 
Ireland,  and  he  had  six  daughters,  myself,  and 
Derbine,  and  Ethney,  Ella,  Clohra,  and  Mugain, 
a  famous  brood,  and  of  these  I  was  ever  reckoned 
the  best,  both  by  myself  and  by  others.  Where- 
fore my  father  and  the  men  of  Ireland  gave  me 
the  greatest  dowry  of  all,  for  a  less  I  would  not 
accept,  knowing  well  what  manner  of  woman  I 
was.  I  disdained  also  to  mate  with  a  man  who 
was  not  the  best,  and  that  man  was  Aileel  Mor, 
High  King  of  all  Connaught,  for  he  was  the 
richest,  and  the  most  war-like,  and  the  most 
bountiful  of  all  the  Kings  of  Eiriu.  Yet  even  of 
him  I  would  accept  no  bridal  gift,  but  I  caused 
him  to  accept  great  gifts  from  myself,  so  that  he 


THE   PURPOSE   OF   MEAVE  3 

became  my  man.  And  when  I  abandoned  my 
father's  house,  far-shining  Tara,  I  came  west- 
ward, driving  before  me  my  innumerable  herds 
and  flocks,  and  my  trains  of  cars  and  pack  horses 
laden  with  jewels  and  household  stuff,  and  having 
in  my  service,  three  hundred  youths,  all  captains 
and  the  sons  of  kings,  each  of  them  having  one 
hundred  men  of  war  under  him,  so  that  the  force 
with  which  I  set  forth  from  Tara  was  thirty 
thousand  men. 

'  Before  me,  as  I  rode  through  the  plains  of 
Meath,  there  went  nine  shining  chariots  abreast, 
all  red-yew  and  burning  bronze,  drawn  by  splen- 
did horses  under  yokes  of  silver  with  silver 
bells  ringing  upon  them  as  they  went.  Upon 
my  right  hand  were  nine  and  nine  on  my  left, 
following  one  after  the  other,  and  nine  behind, 
all  abreast,  closed  the  square  in  the  midst  of 
which  I  rode,  lest  I  should  be  annoyed  by  the 
too  near  clamour  of  the  host,  or  my  raiment 
take  any  mud  or  dust.  And  in  that  manner  I 
came  to  the  great  ford  of  the  Shannon,  and  met 
my  man,  and  entered  Connaught  and  took  the 
supreme  government  of  the  Province." 

'  Thou  hast  spoken  mere  truth,"  exclaimed 
the  kings  and  captains  and  great  men.  "  This 
we  all  know,  for  some  of  us  have  seen  it,  and 


4  IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

the  rest  know  it  from  the  report  of  our 
fathers." 

"  So  that  now,"  she  went  on,  "  the  fame  of  my 
glory  has  gone  abroad  into  all  lands  as  the  best 
of  all  women,  for  of  her,  the  Half-Red  Meave 
of  Leinster,  I  make  little  account,  because  her 
complexion  and  the  colour  of  her  hair  are  not 
pleasing  to  the  men  of  Ireland,  and  in  other 
respects,  too,  she  is  not  to  be  named  beside 
me." 

And  they  said  :  "  Truly,  O  Meave,  the  woman 
is  naught." 

"  I  am  the  best,  and  I  am  served  by  the  best, 
warriors  with  whom  there  are  none  in  all  Erin 
to  be  compared,  whether  for  valour  or  for  loyalty. 
And  though  my  husband  be  now  somewhat 
stricken  with  years,  yet  the  flush  of  a  divine 
origin  makes  full  my  veins,  for  I  am  near  akin 
to  the  high  gods  of  Fail,  and  time  has  not  touched 
me,  for  my  beauty  is  unimpaired,  and  still  as 
of  yore  I  go  joyfully  to  the  red  feasts  of  Ned,  and 
waste  the  ranks  of  opposing  battalions  and  break 
the  battle  upon  my  foes,  for  I  have  ever  scorned 
the  works  of  women,  and  my  delight  was  always 
in  government  and  in  war,  so  that  of  the  six 
mighty  sons  whom  I  have  borne  to  Aileel,  there 
is  none  my  equal,  whether  to  rule  over  men,  or  to 


THE   PUKPOSE   OF   MEAVE  5 

order  the  things  which  relate  to  war.  And  now 
in  all  Ireland  there  is  but  one  province  which  is 
not  obedient  to  me,  for  all  the  kings  of  Meath  and 
Leinster  and  Munster  are  either  tributary  to  me, 
or  have  accepted  my  gifts  and  become  my  men, 
so  that  all  without  exception,  save  only  the 
Ultonians,  keep  my  peace  and  follow  my  war, 
and  the  whole  world  accounts  me  happy,  and 
the  happiest." 

"  Surely,  O  Meave,"  they  said,  "  thou  art 
happy,  and  the  happiest." 

"  Not  so,"  she  said,  "  for  ever  I  have  wanted 
some  one  thing,  lacking  which  I  came  short  of 
supreme  felicity,  and  now  and  for  a  long  time 
past  the  thought  of  that  one  hard-hearted  and 
stubborn  province  which  will  not  obey  me  or 
yield  me  reverence  like  the  rest,  has  been  very 
disquieting  to  my  mind.  There,  only,  divisions 
and  disruptions  are  not  known  which  might 
avail  me  for  its  overthrow,  for  all  the  kings  and 
captains  and  great  men  hold  the  province  firm 
under  the  authority  of  one  man,  Concobar 
Mac  Nessa,  son  of  Factna  the  Righteous,  Captain 
of  the  Red  Branch,  and  High  King  of  all  Ulla. 
As  when  a  founder  casts  many  pieces  of  metal 
into  the  furnace  and  they  come  forth  one  strong 
and  shining  bar,  so  is  this  province  under  the 


6  IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NCRTP 

Red  Branch  and  under  Concobar.  Truly  the 
Ultonians  have  never  regarded  me,  and  of  late 
I  have  sustained  at  their  hands  a  most  grievous 
indignity.  For  recently  having  heard  that  one 
of  their  kings,  Dara,  king  of  South  Coolney, 
was  the  possessor  of  a  bull,  jet-black,  and  of 
incomparable  size  and  beauty,  I  sent  to  him 
Fergus  Mac  Roy,  captain  of  my  guard,  for  the 
bull ;  and  at  first  Dara  consented,  for  he  could 
not,  he  said,  refuse  anything  to  a  woman,  much 
less  to  a  woman  like  myself ;  but  afterwards, 
when  one  of  my  young  men  boastingly  said  that 
it  was  well  the  bull  had  been  surrendered  so 
freely,  for  that  otherwise  he  would  have  been 
taken  away  by  force,  the  churl  repented  ;  he 
drew  up  his  bridges,  barred  his  gates,  and 
manned  his  ramparts,  conducting  himself,  he 
and  his  people,  in  a  very  churlish  and  unworthy 
fashion. 

"  Now,  it  is  not  customary  with  me  to  submit 
tamely  to  any  indignity.  Therefore  I  propose 
to  lead  my  army  into  Ulster,  and  at  the  same 
time  take  to  myself  that  jewel  an$  overthrow 
and  destroy  the  Red  Branch  on  the  same  road, 
and  reduce  the  whole  province  into  subjection 
to  myself.  -One  woman  only,  according  to  the 
traditions  of  bards  and  historians,  has  hitherto 


THE   PURPOSE   OF   MEAVE  7 

exercised  the  supreme  sovereignty  of  Ireland — 
Macha,  the  Red-Haired,  namely,  the  strong 
daughter  of  JEd  Roe.  I,  too,  I  have  sworn  it, 
will  rule  Ireland  in  all  her  coasts,  so  that  the 
white-bordered  blue-green  mantle  of  the  bound- 
less Lir  only  shall  be  the  limit  of  my  dominion, 
and  I  shall  surpass  in  glory  and  renown,  as  in 
other  attributes,  even  that  illustrious  heroine. 
Then  only  may  I  be  truly  happy  and  attain 
to  supreme  felicity. 

"  And  now  I  have  summoned  you,  my  kings 
and  captains  and  chief  counsellors,  to  debate 
before  me  whether  I  had  better  lead  against  the 
Ultonians  my  own  unconquerable  host,  even  the 
army  of  Connaught,  or  draw  to  me  also  the 
risings-out  and  warlike  array  who  are  obedient 
to  my  commands,  and  will  follow  me  rejoicing 
to  the  war." 


CHAPTER  II 

THE   HOSTING 

THEREUPON  some  were  of  opinion  that  as  there 
was  nothing  greater  than  glory  and  honour,  the 
Olnemacta  alone  should  invade  the  Red  Branch 
and  wrest  from  them  the  dominion  of  the  North, 
for  that  no  glory  would  result  from  the  conquest 
of  one  province  by  four.  Others,  a  few,  ex- 
claimed against  this  opinion  as  folly,  and  declared 
that  their  great  Queen,  after  having  subdued 
the  rest  of  Ireland  by  much  warlike  toil,  shoulu 
now  enjoy  her  profit  of  the  same  and  lead  irtp 
the  North  the  rising-out  of  the  Four  Provinces, 
and  that  as  for  glory  and  honour,  they  were  ever 
wont  to  follow  victory  and  power  as  effulgence 
and  splendour  and  wide-ranging  day  followed  the 
sun  in  his  journeying.  Then  the  Queen  signified 
to  Fergus  Mac  Roy  that  he  should  declare  his 
opinion.  When  Fergus  sent  forth  his  great 
voice  no  other  sound  was  audible.  At  first 
his  voice  was  low,  his  words  slow  and  deliberate, 


THE  HOSTING 


and  his  aspect  grave  and  awful,  but  anon  his 
voice  rolled  forth  from  his  throat  and  mighty 
chest  like  brattling  thunder,  and  his  words 
became  a  torrent  of  sounding  speech.  His  face 
was  great  and  massive  and  his  air  majestic. 
Warrior  eyes  blue  and  bright  blazed  there  under 
strong-ridged  brows.  He  wore  the  crommeal 
only.  His  bratta  was  large  and  ample,  dark 
green,  bordered  with  gold ;  his  yellow  hair  fell 
upon  his  wide  shoulders.  On  his  breast  he 
wore  a  wheel-brooch  of  findrinny,  bronze  such  as 
no  artificer  had  poured  forth  for  a  thousand 
years.  His  lena  beneath  the  dark  green  mantle 
was  of  fine  wool,  white  as  the  foam  of  the  sea, 
and  girt  at  the  waist  with  a  broad  belt  of  corded 
bronze.  His  shoes  were  plated  with  red  bronze, 
and  his  battle-cap  barred  with  the  same.  All 
his  attire  was  plain  but  magnificent.  He  was 
the  greatest  and  comeliest  man  in  the  province  ; 
in  his  heart  there  was  no  guile.  He  never  looked 
askance,  but  ever  turned  his  massive  front  and 
great  eyes  full  on  the  man  or  woman  whom  he 
addressed.  In  his  left  hand  he  held  a  round 
shield  without  device,  in  his  right  a  huge  spear, 
polished  in  the  haft,  glittering  in  the  ample 
blade.  Such  to  outward  view  was  Fergus 
Mac  Roy,  son  of  the  Red  Rossa,  ex-King  of  all 


10  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE   NOETH 

Ulla.     He  stepped  forward  three  paces  into  the 
assembly  and  spoke. 

"  It  is  known  to  me/'  he  said,  "  while  it  is  not 
known  to  you,  what  manner  of  men  are  the  Red 
Branch  of  the  Ultonians.  But  it  is  very  well 
known  to  you,  and  to  some  of  you  to  your  sorrow, 
what  manner  of  man  I  am  and  what  the  three 
thousand  champions  whom  I  command — ex- 
Ultonians  all.  And  who  better  than  I  can 
declare  to  you  the  battle  prowess  and  the  nigh 
invincible  might  of  the  matchless  warriors  of 
the  North,  for  I  was  once  Captain  of  the  Red 
Branch  and  High  King  of  all  the  Ultonians  till 
the  rhymers  and  historians  and  cunning  lawyers 
drove  me  from  my  high  seat,  for  I  could  not 
endure  their  stale  and  bygone  wisdom,  nor 
understand  it,  and  I  was  succeeded  by  Concobar 
Mac  Nessa,  who  is  their  King  to-day.  Then  I 
rebelled  against  Concobar,  for  I  was  very  wroth 
on  account  of  the  slaying  of  the  sons  of  Usna 
while  they  were  under  my  protection  ;  and  of 
the  Red  Branch  I  drew  after  me  seven  times 
three  thousand,  and  amongst  them  that  torch 
of  war  and  chivalry,  Cormac  Conlingas,  and 
Cormac  Duvlingas,  equal  in  fight  to  a  battalion, 
and  that  bursting  cloud  of  disruption  and  devas- 
tation, called  the  Chaffer  of  the  Ultonians,  Duvac 


THE  HOSTING  II 

Dael  Ulla,  and  what  those  men  are  you  can  see 
with  your  eyes,  for  they  are  before  you,  as  I 
myself  am.  Being  such  and  so  mightily  rein- 
forced and  sustained,  I  went  into  rebellion,  yet 
you  behold  me  now  an  exile  with  these  mighty 
men,  all  that  is  left  of  my  host,  my  ever-dear 
and  faithful  comrades  whom  the  green  plains 
of  Ulla  now  conceal.  O  my  sorrow,  for  I  cannot 
forget  them,  so  kind  and  loving,  matchless  in 
war,  yet  contrary  to  every  expectation,  over- 
thrown in  battle  after  battle,  thirteen  in  all. 
And  I  say  this,  and  it  is  my  last  word,  if  you, 
the  Olnemacta  only,  march  against  Concobar 
and  the  Red  Branch,  you  shall  not  have  me  and 
my  exiles  for  helpers,  for  we  shall  go  south- 
wards seeking  new  settlements  across  the  great 
river  and  make  swordland  of  North  Munster." 

That  speech  and  that  menace  made  the  weaker 
opinion  the  stronger,  and  it  was  resolved  by  the 
High  Queen  and  her  Saba  that  night  that 
messengers  should  be  sent  on  all  sides  to  summon 
the  men  of  Ireland  for  the  invasion  of  Ulster. 

Now,  from  Irrus  to  Carman — from  the  borders 
of  the  Crave  Rue  to  the  Island  Height  of  Nemed, 
there  was  a  stirring  and  commotion  as  when 
the  summer  winds  shakes  the  forest  with  its 
leaves.  Then  out  of  every  rath  green-sided 


12  IN   THE    GATES    OF   THE    NOETH 

and  fossed,  and  from  every  strong  stone-built 
cathair  and  many  a  lake-surrounded  crannogue 
and  far-sbining  liss  or  dun  in  the  reedy  marshes, 
and  many  a  forestine  stronghold,  and  many 
a  cliff-surmounting  fortress  whence  men  beheld 
the  sun  sink  red  into  the  sea,  came  forth  the 
warlike  children  of  Milith  with  their  weapons  and 
bravery,  their  horses  and  scythed  chariots, 
obedient  to  the  voice  of  their  mistress,  the  man- 
ruling  Queen  of  the  Olnemacta  : — came  the 
children  of  Heber  from  the  south,  and  of  Here- 
mon  from  the  great  central  plains  ;  the  Ossorians 
from  their  pleasant  country  between  the  Suir 
and  the  boiling  Barrow,  watched  over  for  ever, 
east  and  west,  by  Black  Stairs  and  Slievenaman, 
the  Clan  Dega,  the  descendants  of  Bonn  of  the 
Sand  Mounds,  and  of  Colpa,  the  swordsman, 
where  between  green  banks  the  Boyne  pours 
into  the  Ictian  Sea  ;  also,  wherever  they  had 
lands,  the  remanant  of  the  ancient  Firbolgs, 
came  the  Ithians  of  the  south-west,  the  Ernai 
and  all  the  noble  Lagenians,  sons  of  Cathair 
More,  the  mighty  and  red-speared  Cathair,  and 
the  Gaulish  kings  who  had  made  swordland  in 
their  midst.  By  tens  and  twenties  and  hundreds 
they  came  forth,  bright  rivulets  of  valour  and 
bravery  coalescing  into  one  mighty  stream  on  the 


THE  HOSTING  13 

great  road  which  ran  westward  from  Tara,  rolling 
on  to  Rath-Cruhane,  where  Meave  and  the  host 
of  Connaught  awaited  them.  On  the  high 
watch-tower  sat  Queen  Meave  with  Fergus 
beside  her,  and  she  taught  him  concerning 
every  nation  and  tribe  and  clan,  and  concerning 
their  captains  and  mighty  men,  distinguishing 
all  by  their  banners  and  fluttering  mantles — 
blue,  green,  purple,  brown,  scarlet,  or  crimson, 
and  according  to  the  blendings  and  diversities 
of  the  same,  or  by  their  weapons  and  mode  of 
bearing  them,  or  the  shape  and  colour  of  their 
chariots,  distinguishing  them  far  away,  for  she  was 
keen  of  sight  as  the  eagle,  and  her  heart  swelled 
with  pride  as  she  saw  them,  how  they  came 
in  their  multitudes  between  the  green  woods  and 
over  the  hills  and  droums  and  the  grassy  billows 
of  the  land.  And  she  related  to  Fergus  her 
many  wars  and  the  battles  which  she  had  broken 
upon  the  men  of  Erin,  nation  by  nation,  till  she 
had  subdued  them. 

"  My  march  into  the  North,"  she  said,  "  lead- 
ing this  mighty  host,  will  be  the  rushing  of  a 
spring  tide  and  the  evacuation  of  territories." 


CHAPTER  III 

THE  PROPHET  OF  MOY  TURA 

FERGUS  held  his  peace,  but  he  noted  all  her  words 
and  scanned  narrowly  the  hosts  of  the  men  of 
Erin  as  they  came.  They,  on  their  side,  when 
they  saw  their  great  Queen,  her  shield,  and 
upright  spear,  shouted  so  mightily  that  the 
hollows  of  the  forests  and  the  distant  mountains 
sent  back  a  deep  reverberation,  and  the  solid 
canopy  of  the  firmament  resounded.  And  now 
the  Four  Plains  of  Ai,  which  were  mensal  lands 
of  Rath-Cruhane,  and  had  never  at  any  time 
been  wounded  by  the  plough  or  defaced  by  spade 
and  mattock,  namely,  Moa  and  Markine,  Sleshin 
and  Keeltane,  were  filled  with  the  uproar  of  the 
warriors,  the  whinnying  and  neighing  of  steeds, 
and  the  sound  of  the  revolution  of  brazen  wheels. 
The  sheen  and  far-seen  glittering  what  mouth 
of  man  could  describe,  for  never  before  was 
there  witnessed  in  Eiriu  a  hosting  like  this  ; 

14 


THE   PROPHET   OF   MOY  TUEA  15 

such  were  the  nunber  of  the  warriors  and  their 
splendour  ? 

Nevertheless,  in  the  night's  silence,  and  in  the 
awful  nocturnal  solitudes  when  most  of  all  the 
soul  is  apt  to  be  fearful,  Meave  was  troubled  in 
her  mind  when  she  thought  of  Fergus  and  his 
exiles,  and  recalled  his  words  how  they  were  a 
remnant,  and  as  she  thought  of  the  great  prowess 
of  the  Red  Branch,  and  how  the  province  was 
bound  together,  firm  and  strong,  beneath  its 
king.  Therefore,  while  the  Kings  of  Olnemacia 
and  her  foreign  confederates  were  still  encamped 
together  on  the  Four  Plains  of  Ai,  Queen  Meave 
set  forth  to  go  to  Moy  tura,  to  consult  with  the 
prophet  who  dwelt  there,  and  she  left  Aileel 
sitting  in  the  door  of  the  dun,  looking  forth 
with  dim  eyes,  and  his  heart  was  warmed  when 
he  heard  the  martial  din  around  him,  and  she 
left  Fergus  moving  about  among  the  battalions 
upon  the  plain,  distinguishable  from  afar,  and 
Cormac  Conlinglas  directing  the  evolutions  of  a 
squadron  of  swift  chariots. 

At  a  place  where  the  inhabited  country  meared 
with  a  wilderness  she  dismissed  her  guard  of 
chariots  and  horsemen,  and  went  forward  alone  ; 
only  her  son  Maine,  surnamed  "  Mother's  Dar- 
ling," went  with  her  as  charioteer.  He  was 


l6  IN    THE   GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

slender  and  graceful,  but  very  strong  and 
active.  A  cape  of  green  fastened  by  a  silver 
brooch  fluttered  from  his  shoulders  ;  his  temples 
and  hair  were  girt  with  a  ribbon  of  twisted 
thread  of  gold.  There  was  a  goad  in  his  hand 
shod  with  red  bronze.  So  through  the  wilderness 
they  rode  alone,  and  the  sun  set  and  darkness 
increased,  and  behind  them  full  and  round  rose 
the  white  moon.  The  wind  blew  cold  over 
those  waste  solitudes,  and  Meave  gathered  the 
mantle  around  her  and  drew  the  ample  hood 
over  her  head. 

The  man  whom  Meave  went  to  consult  on  this 
occasion  was  not  one  of  the  known  and  honoured 
druids  of  the  province,  but  one  who  held  com- 
merce with  forgotten  powers  and  dread  unwor- 
shipped  sovereignties  of  old  Fomorian  prin- 
cipalities shorn  of  all  glory  and  might  by  the 
younger  gods  of  the  Gael. 

They  came  to  Moy  Tura — the  Plain  of  Towers. 
It  was  a  vast  cemetery,  long  unused,  a  wide- 
lying  place  of  tombs,  of  broad-based  pointed 
tumuli,  great  mounds,  barrows,  and  cairns ; 
of  cromlechs  and  tall  sepulchral  stones,  ogham- 
inscribed.  Here  the  mighty  of  ancient  times 
had  been  interred,  potent  sorcerers  and  sorcer- 
esses, famous  druids,  giants,  and  champions, 


THE   PROPHET   OF  MOY  TURA  VJ 

Firbolgs  and  Fomorians  of  dim  nigh-forgotten 
days  and  the  beginnings  of  time,  and  Meave 
shuddered  when  she  saw  the  stones  how  they 
gleamed  white  and  fierce  like  the  fangs  of  wolves 
bared  and  staring  in  the  ghastly  moonshine,  and 
felt  around  her  the  presence  of  the  countless 
hosts  of  the  dead. 

Here  amongst  the  tombs  far  from  the  ruddy 
cheerful  life  and  ways  of  men  dwelt  the  prophet 
of  Moy  Tura,  dusky-pallid,  grey  and  lean,  mis- 
shapen, with  eyes  bright  and  wild,  deep-seen 
in  wizard  mysteries,  the  companion  of  phantoms 
—perchance  their  sport.  No  Ard-druidic  splen- 
dour of  glittering  raiment  was  his,  or  breast-plate 
of  findrinny  from  which  flashed  the  likeness  of 
the  rising  sun,  or  jewel-bespangled  turban, 
or  beplumed  mantle  myriad-hued,  gold-hemmed, 
gold-fringed  ;  for  he  was  clothed  in  black,  and  the 
dun  in  which  he  dwelled  was  built  around  the 
entrance  and  gave  upon  the  interior  of  a  tomb. 

The  prophet  was  not  taken  by  surprise  on  this 
occasion  for  he  was  well  aware  of  the  High 
Queen's  coming.  He  did  not  stir  from  his  place 
to  meet  her,  but  Meave  came  to  him,  humbly, 
and  in  the  dim  light  bent  low  before  him  as  to  a 
god,  so  that  the  heart  of  the  wizard  man  was 
touched  and  his  lonely  pride  appeased. 


l8  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

"  What  wouldst  thou,  my  daughter  ?  "  he 
said. 

"  A  prosperous  vaticination  and  favourable 
foretelling  concerning  the  issue  of  a  mighty 
labour  which  has  come  upon  me,  for  I  lead  the 
joined  host  of  the  Four  Provinces  against  the 
Red  Branch  and  much  I  fear  the  might  of  these 
stern  champions  of  the  North." 

"  I  know  it,"  answered  the  prophet.  "  Rejoice 
and  be  happy,  my  daughter,  for  weak  as  a 
woman  in  child-bed  are  the  peerless  warriors 
of  Clanna  Rury,  even  the  Knights  of  the  Red 
Branch,  great  their  fame.  For  the  curse  has 
fallen  upon  them,  which  long  since  Macha 
pronounced  when  unwittingly  Concobar  raced 
his  steeds  at  Tailteen  against  the  pregnant 
woman,  and  that  woman,  unknown  to  all,  no 
other  than  Macha,  the  Red-Maned,  daughter 
of  JEd  Roe.  I  have  seen  her  alight  like 
a  fiery  bird  upon  the  topmost  crag  of  Slieve-an- 
Ullar  above  the  cold  currents  of  the  Moyle. 
Storm-clouds  were  rolled  around  her  and  red 
lightnings  played.  There  standing,  she  reached 
the  likeness  of  a  spear  over  the  sea  against  the 
Fomorian  Isle  of  Towers,  and  summoned  to  her 
her  host  of  druid-thralls,  and  subject  genii,  and 
obedient  baleful  influences,  submarine,  sub- 


THE   PROPHET  OF   MOY  TURA  IQ 

terrene,  and  from  the  deeps  they  arose  with  a 
noise,  invisible,  clothed  in  white  mist,  and  the  mist 
is  over  all  Ulla.     There  the  hearts  of  the  mighty 
are  molten,  and  the  understandings  of  the  wise 
disordered,  and  nameless  terrors  possess  heroic 
souls.     Concobar  is  under  fear  in  Emain  Macha, 
and  Laegairey  in  Dun-Lagra,  and  Conall-Carna 
in  Carn-Fion,  and  Celtcar  in  Dun-Celtcar,  and 
thou  hast  nought  to  dread  from  the  Ultonians." 
"  I,   too,"   said   Meave,    "  was  present,   and 
assisting  at  those  memorable  games,  and  it  was 
I,  and  no  other,  who  urged  such  a  course  upon 
the  youths  of  the  Ultonians  ;    for  at  the  time 
I  was  spoken  of  with  their  young  King,  even 
Concobar  Mac  Nessa,  and  I  thought  that  my 
pre-eminence  and  glory  in  that  great  hosting 
of  the  men  of  Erin  were  minished  by  the  boast- 
ing of  the  woman's  husband,  who  said,   first 
privately,  and  then,  in  wrath,  before  us  all, 
that  his  wife  could  easily  outstrip  the  great  steeds 
of  Concobar,  and  bring  them   to    swift  shame, 
though  now  upon  their  foreheads  bells  of  victory 
rang  out  triumphing  peals.     For  the  pride  and 
vain-glory,  and  arrogance  and  haughtiness    of 
the  young  Ultonians  was  very  displeasing  to  the 
man's  mind.     And  he  said   that  but  for  the 
pregnancy  of  the  woman  she  would  make  good 


20          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NOKTH 

that  word  of  her  dear  husband,  however  inad- 
vertently spoken  ,  and  contrary  to  what  was 
right. 

"  Afterwards  I  was  witness  of  that  unusual 
race — the  woman  against  the  horses,  and  beheld 
the  mightiest  of  the  Ultonians,  how  with  difficulty 
they  held  back  and  bore  down  the  man.  Also 
I  heard  the  shouting  of  the  countless  host,  and, 
through  all,  the  rapid  heart-palpitations  and  the 
meanings  of  the  woman  as  she  ran — outspeeding 
the  horses — and  saw  her  how  she  stumbled 
and  fell  prone  within  the  goal ;  nor  did  I  feel 
even  a  little  pity  for  her  on  that  occasion.  There- 
after there  was  a  shrieking,  which  divided 
Earth  and  Heaven,  as  with  swords,  and  then 
silence,  and  after  the  silence  words  in  a  strange 
tongue  !  and  none  knew  the  meaning  of  the 
words,  save  the  wise  men  of  the  Ultonians  only, 
and  they  have  not  revealed  it." 

"  And  for  a  time  there  were  rumours  and 
babblings,  and  overmuch  empty  conjecturing 
and  interpreting  ;  but  all  is  now  forgotten  save 
by  me  and  by  thee,  and,  mayhap,  by  some  of 
the  wizards  of  the  Ultonians  who  still  live." 

"  Here,  sitting,  I  heard  all,"  murmured  the 
Prophet,  "  I  heard  all  and  understood." 

"  Afterwards  there  was  a  storm,  the  like  of 


21 

which  is  not  remembered  by  the  most  ancient, 
and  a  divine  terror  seized  the  host,  so  that  men 
and  women,  we  fled  out  of  that  assembly  in 
panic  and  wild  disorder,  each  unto  his  own 
territory,  and  to  the  sheltering  arms  of  our 
walled  duns  and  raths  and  the  rosy  comfortings 
of  our  hearths,  so  dear  and  familiar  ;  for  like 
the  ruining  and  breaking  up  of  worlds  were  the 
portents  manifested  that  day  at  Tailteen. 

"  I,  myself,"  said  Meave,  "  was  the  first  to 
flee,  for  my  heart  is  womanly,  altogether,  and 
before  thee,  O  Mighty  Prophet  and  True  Seer, 
I  would  wear  no  false  shows,  such  as  those  with 
which  I  deceive  the  men  of  Erin,  and  subdue 
them  to  my  will." 

"  And  are  thy  prophesyings  certain — sure, 
and  to  be  cherished  and  relied  upon  at  all  times, 
O  Mightiest  of  the  Mighty,  Dread  Seer,  and 
Prophet  of  the  Olnemacta  ?  " 

'  They  are,"  he  answered.  "  Great  felicity 
and  supreme  dominion  to  thee,  my  daughter. 
And  now  I  would  be  alone." 

Rejoicing,  Meave  made  her  escape  from  the 
druidic  cave,  and  Maine  Matrimail  let  loose  the 
steeds  and  they  flew  wildly  between  the  tombs 
half-white,  half-black,  in  the  staring  moonshine, 
and  between  the  tall  shadow  casting  stones.  As 


22          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

they  went  Meave  heard  a  singing  sweet,  and 
clear,  a  strange  song,  a  fairy  singing,  and 
was  aware  that  a  maiden  sat  at  her  feet  in  the 
chariot  and,  as  she  sang,  unrolled  a  druid  web, 
half  seen  through  rolling  vapour. 

Fair  and  sweet  was  the  maid,  her  blood  showed 
pink  in  the  tender  nails  of  her  delicate  white 
hands. 

"  Who  art  thou  ?  "  said  the  Queen. 

"  Faithleen,  the  druidess,"  she  answered. 
"  From  the  fairy  hills  of  the  Boyne  have  I  now 
come.  I  keep  watch  and  ward  for  thee  for 
ever." 

"  What  is  in  the  web  ?  "  said  the  Queen. 
"It  is  alive  and  roars  thunderously.  It  is  full 
of  the  motion  and  noise  of  men  and  horses,  but 
I  see  nothing  clearly  through  the  fairy  mist." 

"  It  is  the  web  of  Time,"  she  replied.  "  Out 
of  the  loom  it  rolls  where  the  blind  old  man 
weaves  always,  who  is  himself  the  shuttle  of 
unknown  and  nameless  powers." 

"  I  lead  the  men  of  the  Four  Provinces  against 
the  Ultonians,"  cried  Meave.  "  What  is  the 
appearance  of  my  host  in  the  web  ?  Tell  me 
true,  O  Faithleen,  the  prophetess." 

"  Black  with  disaster ;  pale  with  conster- 
nation ;  bloodied  all  and  crimson." 


THE   PROPHET   OF   MOY  TURA  23 

"  Thou  liest,  O  Faithleen,  the  prophetess. 
Concobar  is  under  fear  in  Emain  Macha,  and  the 
Red  Branch  are  strengthless  as  the  pale  shades 
of  the v  dead,  and  I  dread  nothing  from  the 
Ul tomans.  Look  thou  to  the  North  and  bear 
true  witness." 

"I  lie  not,  O  my  Queen,  nor  doth  the  web 
lie.  Truly  Concobar  is  under  fear  in  Emain 
Macha,  and  the  Red  Branch  are  strengthless  as 
the  pale  shades  of  the  dead.  Yet  thy  host  is  as 
1  say." 

"  Look  now  well.  How  appear  my  host,  O 
Danaan  ?  ' 

"  Bloodied  all  and  crimson." 

'  Thou  liest,  O  immortal :  Concobar  is  under 
fear  in  Emain  Macha,  and  Laegairey  in  Dun- 
Lagra,  and  Conall  in  Carn-Foin,  and  Celtcar 
in  Dun-Celtcar.  Weaker  than  child-bearing 
women  when  their  pains  mightily  seize  hold  upon 
them  are  the  descendants  of  Rury,  and  I  fear 
nothing  from  the  Ultonians.  How  showeth  my 
host  to  thee  now,  O  Faithleen  of  the  fairy 
hills  ?  " 

'  Bloodied  all  and  crimson,  and  the  clouds  roll 
across  the  web  and  it  is  not  seen." 

"  Sawest  thou  aught  my  son,  Maine  Matri- 
mail  ?  "  said  Meave.  "  Heardest  thou  aught  ?" 


24          IN  THL  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

"  I  saw  nothing-;  heard  nothing.  Only  the 
gleaming  of  the  stones  frightened  my  horses,  so 
that  with  difficulty  and  at  the  price  of  sore  hands 
have  1  been  able  to  restrain  them  in  their  plung- 
ings." 

They  met  the  Royal  guard  after  that  and  went 
on  to  Magh  Ai  through  the  night  and  the  gloam- 
ing till  the  sun  rose  red  from  his  red-flaming 
couch. 

When  the  host  of  the  Tan  beheld  her  coming 
they  shouted  mightily,  whereat  Meave  stood 
erect  in  her  chariot.  Her  gold  cath-barr  was  on 
her  head,  in  her  right  hand  her  spear,  before  her 
bosom  her  shield,  and  above  her  shield,  beau- 
teous beyond  words,  her  countenance  serene 
and  high.  In  this  manner  down  streets  of 
spears  held  in  the  hands  of  kneeling  warriors 
she  journeyed  slowly  through  the  host,  moving 
on  to  Rath-Cruhane. 

Now,  Fergus  Mac  Roy  was  moving  through  the 
whole  host,  marshalling  and  directing,  conspicu- 
ous among  the  warriors  as  an  antlered  deer  that 
stalks  amid  the  herd,  and  his  voice  resounded 
above  the  din  and  clamour  of  Magh  Ai.  But 
when  the  royal  cavalcade  appeared  from  the 
North,  and  the  whole  host  was  confused,  he  bore 


THE     PROPHET     OF     MOY     TURA  25 

it  with  difficulty,  and  turned  half  round,  and 
leaning  on  his  spear,  looked  askance  and  slightly 
to  where  the  great  Queen  stood  erect  in  the  midst 
of  the  high  chariot-guard.  When  she  saw  Fer- 
gus, her  serene  countenance  was  disturbed,  and 
she  sat  down  quickly,  and  bid  them  draw  to  the 
covering  of  the  chariot  and  urge  the  steeds 
onward  to  the  Royal  Dun.  There  Aileel  sat  in 
the  doorway,  and  Orloff,  their  youngest  son,  sat 
by  his  side  preparing  a  scourge  for  his  steeds. 
Aileel  chid  his  wife ;  she  answered  softly,  and 
went  into  the  dun. 


CHAPTER  IV 

ONLY  A  MAN 

NEXT  day  Queen  Meave  rode  through  the  ample 
gates  of  three  times  walled  Rath-Cruhane,  her 
face  towards  the  Shannon,  and  set  in  motion 
the  mighty  host  of  the  Tan.  Far  and  wide  over 
the  Four  Plains  the  war  standards  of  the  nations 
glowed  in  the  fiery  light  of  the  kindling  dawn. 
All  promised  themselves  that  on  this  road  they 
would  kill,  banish,  despoil,  and  utterly  over- 
throw the  Ultonians.  Any  man  observing  that 
host  from  afar  would  have  seen  first  the  Queen 
and,  for  a  long  time,  no  other,  such  were  her 
stature  and  beauty,  and  high  imperial  mien, 
such  the  splendour  and  size  of  her  horses  and 
chariot,  the  shining  of  her  apparel,  white, 
crimson,  and  gold,  the  glitter  of  her  broad  shield, 
the  flashing  of  the  gem-set  cath-barr  above 
her  wide  brows,  and  the  brazen-beaming  blade  of 
her  great  spear,  like  a  flame.  Her  husband  sat 
beside  her,  rejoicing  in  her  glory.  Before  and 

26 


ONLY   A  MAN  27 

after  and  on  either  side  went  her  chariot-guard, 
and  all  around,  as  far  as  the  eye  might  see,  in  a 
shining  tide,  wave  after  glittering  wave,  flowed 
forward  the  countless  armies  of  the  Tan,  accord- 
ing to  their  tribes  and  nations.  The  twin  sons 
of  Nera  led  the  van,  riding  in  one  chariot. 

In  that  order  they  crossed  the  green  plains  of 
Connaught,  and  forded  the  Shannon  at  the  Ford 
of  Lon,  and  traversed  Teffia  and  passed  the  great 
lakes  of  Meath,  rich  in  grass,  holding  their  straight 
road  prosperously  towards  Ulster,  as  men  draw 
to  the  nest  of  a  dragon  sick  to  death. 

They  passed  the  tall  tomb  of  Essa  and  the 
great  terraced  cairn  of  Odba,  wife  of  steed- 
loving  Heremon,  and  drew  nigh  to  the  mearings 
of  the  Red  Branch.  They  were  amazed  that 
they  came  not  anywhere  upon  traces  of  outposts, 
or  sentinels,  or  scouting  parties,  out  of  the 
North  ;  and  well  indeed  might  they  be  surprised 
at  that,  for  the  hosting  of  the  Four  Provinces 
to  Rath-Cruhane  was  not  a  thing  done  in  a 
corner.  Always  the  sons  of  Nera  went  in  the 
van. 

On  the  fifth  day  these  last  found  a  pillar 
stone,  and  around  its  waist  an  oak  sapling  bent 
into  a  hoop,  and  on  the  sapling  an  Ogham  newly 
cut.  Also  they  saw  that  horses  and  two  chariots 


28          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

had  been  there  in  the  night,  and  that  of  the 
twain  one  had  gone  thence  to  the  South  in  the 
morning,  and  the  other  to  the  North.  All 
around  the  grass  was  closely  cropped  by  the 
horses  who  grazed  there  during  the  night.  Ad- 
miring what  all  this  might  mean,  they  took  the 
hoop  with  them,  withholding  it  during  the  day, 
and  in  the  evening,  when  the  camp  was  pitched, 
they  brought  it  with  them  to  the  Council. 
Many  voices  were  raised  there  as  they  drew 
nigh,  that  of  Fergus  clamorous  and  clangorous 
over  all,  distinguishable  in  the  ends  of  the  camp. 
The  Seneschal  called  their  names  with  a  clear 
voice,  and,  drawing  aside  the  curtains,  bade 
them  pass  into  the  assembly. 

Aileel,  High  King  of  the  Olnemacta,  sat  at  the 
head  of  the  pavilion,  nodding,  while  the  silver 
wand  trembled  in  his  hand,  and  the  Queen  sat 
upon  his  right  hand,  and  Fergus  stood  upon 
his  left,  wrangling  with  the  assembled  kings  : 
and  the  Queen  was  incensed  at  the  authority 
with  which  he  spake.  When  she  saw  the  sons  of 
Nera  she  smiled  and  beckoned  them  to  her,  for 
they  had  been  brought  up  with  her  own  sons, 
and  were,  moreover,  comely,  and  she  took  the 
hoop  from  their  hands  and  gave  it  to  the  Ard- 
Druid  to  read,  but  he  could  not.  Then  it  was 


ONLY   A  MAN  2Q 

handed  to  Fergus,  and  with  difficulty  they  per- 
suaded him  to  look  into  the  Ogham,  for  the  kings 
desired  one  thing  and  he  another,  and  Meave 
supported  them,  and  he  was  enraged  with  her 
and  them.  When  he  read  the  Ogham  he  started 
and  was  silent.  He  looked  at  it  for  a  long  time, 
and  then  asked  the  sons  of  Nera  how  they  came 
by  the  hoop,  and  they  told  him. 
"  What  is  it  ?  "  said  Meave. 

"It  is  an  Ogham  taught  by  Cathvah  to  the 
youths  of  the  Ultonians,"  replied  Fergus. 

'  What  is  in  the  hoop  ?  "  said  Meave. 

"  A  warning,  O  Queen,  and  a  challenge  of 
chivalry,  a  magnanimous  warning,  addressed 
to  the  Four  Princes  and  to  thee." 

'  Who  is  the  one  who  would  dare  to  address 
warning  and  challenge  to  the  joined  host  that  I 
lead  into  the  North  ?  "  cried  the  Queen. 

'  Cuculain,'  "  said  Fergus,  "  is  the  name  that 
is  in  the  hoop."  He  was  strangely  silent  now, 
so  that  Meave  had  to  repeat  her  questions. 

'  Braggart  and  over-daring  have  ever  been 
the  champions  of  the  North,"  replied  the  Queen. 
"  Who  is  the  man  ?  " 

"  A  certain  gentle  youth  of  the  Ultonians," 
answered  Fergus.  "  Sons  of  Nera,  you  will  go 
cautiously  from  this  day  forward." 


3O          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

"  We  are  the  ears  and  eyes  of  the  Tan,"  they 
said.  '  We  shall  not  change  our  manner  of 
going  for  one  man.  The  van  is  ours." 

'  You  will  come  to  some  hurt,"  said  Fergus. 

That  night  a  great  wave  of  tenderest  love  and 
affection  for  all  his  ancient  comrades  and  dear 
friends  of  the  Red  Branch  came  over  the  mind 
of  Fergus,  and  especially  for  his  own  pupil  and 
fosterling,  the  son  of  Sualtam.  All  the  night 
he  sat  on  his  bed's  edge,  swaying  to  and  fro, 
with  his  great  man-slaying  hands  before  his 
eyes,  through  which  the  hot  tears  gushed  like 
rivers,  and  with  difficulty  did  he  restrain  himself 
from  lifting  up  his  voice  in  a  terrible  and  far- 
heard  lamentation. 

While  he  so  sat,  weeping,  Cormac  Conlingas, 
son  of  Concobar  Mac  Nessa,  stood  silent  beside 
him,  with  his  right  hand  resting  on  the  left 
shoulder  of  his  captain.  That  Cormac  was  the 
handsomest  man  in  all  the  host  of  Meave,  and 
in  all  feasts  his  was  ever  the  merriest  and  most 
alluring  countenance,  and  his  tongue  was  ever 
the  most  forward  and  mirth-provoking. 

That  night  there  was  a  great  snow,  at  which 
men  marvelled,  for  the  snowing  time  of  the  year 
was  long  past.  Next  day  Fergus  and  his  exiles 
took  the  van,  displacing  the  sons  of  Nera,  and 


ONLY   A  MAN  3! 

Fergus  that  day  led  the  army  in  a  great  circuit 
through  woods  and  plains  in  the  snow  and 
returned  the  whole  Tan  to  the  camping  ground 
of  the  previous  night,  and  that  place  Cuil  Silinna, 
hard  by  the  Boyne.  There  was  great  wrath 
amongst  the  kings  that  night,  who  declared  that 
Fergus  should  never  again  hold  any  high  autho- 
rity or  command  in  the  great  hosting  of  the 
Four  Provinces. 

'  The  snow  effaced  all  landmarks,"  said 
Cormac  Conlingas,  who  as  he  spoke  looked  at  the 
High  Queen  and  smiled.  He  was  a  youth  who 
might  say  and  do  all  that  to  which  his  mind 
might  prompt  him,  such  was  he  in  face  and  form, 
for  very  great  was  Queen  Meave's  desire  towards 
handsome  men. 

'It  was  not  the  snow,"  replied  Meave,  "  but 
treachery  and  faithlessness  and  great  love  for 
the  Ultonians." 

Fergus  said  never  a  word. 

Although  no  rain  fell  that  night,  yet  in  the 
morning  no  wisp  or  swathe  or  shining  star  of 
snow  could  be  seen  anywhere ;  only  the  dewy 
green  grass  and  the  flowers,  with  birds  singing. 
Then  the  sun  sprang  forth  red  from  his  red- 
flaming  couch  and  flooded  the  world  with  his 
light.  Nevertheless,  from  that  night  forward 


32          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NOETH 

all  things  seemed  strange,  wild,  unreal,  and 
pregnant  with  omens  and  portents  always  to  the 
men  of  Meave,  and  they  ever  looked  to  see 
unusual  happenings  and  dire  and  unexpected 
events.  It  was  as  if  they  had  that  night  over- 
passed a  mearing  by  which  worlds  were  divided. 
No  man  spake  of  these  things  even  to  his  fellow 
or  comrade,  but  all  men  were  aware. 

Presently,  the  sons  of  Nera,  who  still  held  the 
van,  came  upon  the  track  of  a  chariot  going  on 
before  them.  "  It  is  the  same,"  they  said,  "  and 
the  horses  the  same — which  went  southwards 
out  of  that  close-cropped  glade." 

They  followed  the  track  till  they  came  to  a 
shorn  fir  tree  standing  upright  between  the  two 
wheel  tracks  of  the  chariot.  Wondering  what 
this  might  mean  they  delayed  in  that  place  till 
Fergus  and  Meave  and  the  Captains  came  up 
with  them.  "  It  is  a  second  warning  and  chal- 
lenge of  chivalry  to  us,"  said  Fergus,  "  and  an 
attestation  of  his  prowess,  from  the  youth  who 
goes  before  us.  The  tree  was  flung  from  him 
behind  as  he  turned  round  in  the  travelling 
chariot.  Can  any  draw  it  ?  "  They  could  not. 
Fergus  withdrew  it  and  showed  how  the  tree 
had  been  cut  with  a  single  sword-stroke  and  how 
two-thirds  of  the  same  had  been  fixed  in  the 


ONLY   A  MAN  33 

ground  by  the  force  and  adroitness  of  that  one 
cast.  "  Nay,  O  Fergus,"  said  the  sons  of 
Nera,  "  it  was  driven  in  with  blows  and  the 
marks  of  the  same  upon  the  tree's  top  afterwards 
stroken  away.  The  man  is  not  on  earth  who 
could  do  the  feat." 

"  Deceits  and  pretences  are  not  customary 
among  Ultonians,"  said  Fergus,  "  greater  sur- 
prises than  this  await  you ;  and,  O  Sons  of 
Nera,  while  you  live  you  will  not  be  the  better 
for  the  making  of  that  speech  and  the  thinking 
of  that  thought . "  He  looked  fixedly  at  them  and 
said  : — "  Already  you  are  dead  men."  After- 
wards Fergus  discovered  Orloff,  the  Queen's 
youngest  son,  amongst  the  van  of  the  army  in 
his  gilded  chariot  shouting  challenges  to  him 
who  preceded  the  host,  and  while  he  danced 
along  the  chariot  pole,  brandishing  his  light 
spears.  Fergus  bade  him  go  back  to  his  mother 
and  when  he  would  not,  drove  him  back  with 
blows.  He  returned  weeping  to  the  Queen,  his 
mother,  and  she  was  incensed. 

That  night  a  vast  rumour  diffused  itself 
through  the  host  concerning  Cuculain.  In  the 
Council  there  was  dissension  and  the  voice  of 
Fergus  might  be  heard  in  the  ends  of  the  camp 
as  he  contended  with  the  kings  of  the  four 


34          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

Provinces.  For  Fergus  desired  that  the  great 
warriors  of  the  host  should  form  the  van,  and 
the  kings  derided  him.  But  when  the  Council 
was  dismissed,  Fergus  remained  with  the  Queen 
in  the  pavilion.  She  sat  defiant  and  wrathful 
with  averted  head.  Fergus  came  before  her 
and  seized  her  resisting  hand  and  said  : — 

"  Fitter  were  it  for  thee,  O  Queen,  to  have 
remained  in  thy  own  dun  and  seen  to  the 
government  of  thy  household,  than  to  march 
upon  this  foray  with  thy  lord,  silly  from  age, 
and  thy  son  Orloff,  silly  from  youth.  At  home 
in  thy  own  palace  thou  shouldst  have  remained 
with  these,  but  here  thou  art  a  disturbing 
influence,  and  partest  from  me  the  authority 
over  the  loose  array  of  this  great  host.  For 
thou  art  not  thyself  fit  to  govern  men,  and  make 
provisions  to  secure  victory,  or  to  give  the 
necessary  commands  in  battle  ;  and  against  me, 
who  am,  thou  dost  countenance  the  headstrong 
and  mutinous  kings.  And  this  thou,  too,  thy- 
self well  knowest,  but  it  is  a  delight  to  thee  to 
appear  before  all  the  people  with  thy  weapons 
and  martial  bravery,  and  to  hear  them  shout 
when  they  see  thee  shield-bearing  in  thy  great 
war-chariot,  and  thy  head  gold-crowned  above 
the  host.  For  it  is  because  of  this,  and  not  for 


ONLY   A   MAN  35 

thy  knowledge  of  war  and  government,  that  the 
under-kings  have  not  long  since  put  Sibel  More 
aside  and  raised  the  Tanist  to  the  Ard-Rieship 
of  the  Province  ;  for  with  thy  fair  face,  and  thy 
stature  beyond  women,  and  thy  shining  shield, 
thou  hast  bewitched  them,  and  also  the  far- 
coming  kings  of  the  East  and  of  the  South.  For 
if  thou  hast  sometimes  in  the  edge  of  battle  cast 
thy  spear  into  the' hostile  ranks,  well  knowedst 
thou  that  thy  chariot  was  thick-ringed  with 
warriors,  the  mightiest  in  the  land,  not  one  of 
whom  would  not  die  a  thousand  deaths  rather 
than  that  one  tress  of  thy  yellow  hair  should 
receive  any  hurt.  And  no  such  great  accom- 
plishment is  this  of  thine,  for  many  a  time  in 
warlike  forays  have  I  seen  women  contend  with 
spear  and  shield  against  opposing  warriors  and 
with  more  cunning  and  ferocity  than  have  been 
granted  to  thee.  And  this  I  tell  thee,  for  thy 
greater  behoof.  Like  an  eagle  that  hovers 
above  the  moor-fowl  on  the  mountain-side,  there 
hovers  one  above  this  host  who  delays  his  stroke, 
but  will  quickly  deal  out  death.  Far-shooting 
Cuculain,  the  son  of  Sualtam  goes  before  us,  his 
sling  is  in  his  hand,  and  no  stronger  than  the  leaf 
of  the  sycamore  will  thy  shield  be  against  his  sling- 
balls,  and  well  I  know  he  will  not  err  if  against 


36          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

thee  he  bends  the  Crave  Tamal,  his  bending 
branch.  Verily  in  Emain  Macha  have  I  seen 
him  smile  far  aloft  the  wheeling  swallow.  There- 
fore, now,  be  persuaded  by  me,  O  Queen,  and 
return  with  thy  lord  and  with  the  boy.  For 
greatly  I  fear  for  thee  when  I  see  thee  amid  the 
host  with  the  gold  cath-barr  upon  thy  head,  thy 
shield  far  seen,  and  thy  god-like  stature,  and 
with  difficulty  do  I  draw  away  my  mind  to  the 
care  of  this  great  host." 

'  Wherefore,  now,  O  my  Queen,  be  persuaded 
by  me  ;  return  to  Rath  Cruhane  with  thy  hus- 
band and  Orloff,  and  thy  sweet  daughter, 
Findabar  of  the  Beautiful  Eyebrows.  What 
doth  she  in  this  host,  save  as  a  lure  by  which 
thou  drawest  to  thee  the  Kings  of  the  Four 
Provinces  ? 

"  Return  to  Rath  Cruhane,  and  forget  all  the 
pride  and  ambition  and  vain-glory,  and  let  men 
have  the  government  of  the  Tain." 

Now  ere  Fergus  had  uttered  many  words  the 
High  Queen  arose  from  where  she  sat,  her  fair, 
pure  countenance  marred  with  great  anger,  and 
with  trembling  hands  seized  a  javelin,  and  cast 
it  at  Fergus,  but  he  watched,  and  stepped  aside, 
and  the  javelin  hissed  through  the  wattled  walls, 
and  passed  out  into  the  camp  ;  and  ere  she  could 


ONLY   A   MAN 


37 


seize  another,  he  ran  to  her  and  took  hold  of 
her  with  his  hands  and  forced  her  back  into  her 
throne,  and  held  her  still,  and  she  spat  at  him. 
But  he  took  up  his  speech  where  she  had  in- 
terrupted him  and  went  on  to  the  end,  and  when 
he  had  made  an  end  he  gathered  together  the 
weapons  that  were  at  her  side,  and  went  out  of 
the  pavilion  stalking  moodily  to  his  own  booth. 

Now  outside  the  royal  pavilion  there  was  a 
throng  of  men,  and  amongst  them  a  warrior 
slain,  for  a  javelin  had  pierced  him  behind  the 
ear.  Eocha  Glunduff  was  his  name,  and  he  was 
a  Rig-Damna  of  the  province  of  Lahan. 

When  they  drew  out  the  javelin  they  knew  it 
was  the  High  Queen's,  and  there  was  great 
wrath.  Fergus  set  a  guard  about  the  Queen's 
pavilion  that  no  one  should  tell  her  of  the  death 
of  Eocha  Glunduff  until  the  morning. 

All  that  night  the  great  queen  raged  in  her 
tent,  nourishing  the  angry  fire,  weeping  and 
gnashing  with  her  teeth  ;  but  as  the  darkness 
began  to  abate  she  slept.  Not  long  sleeping 
she  was  awakened  by  a  cry,  and,  fearing  an 
assault,  she  fitted  her  cath-barr  to  her  head,  for 
it  was  upon  a  nail  beside  the  couch,  and,  looking 
forth  through  the  window,  she  saw  the  warriors 
gathering  together,  and  men  rushing  from  all 


38          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

sides  out  of  their  branchy  booths,  looking 
eastwards,  and  the  sun  had  not  yet  risen.  So 
Meave  looked  too,  and  lo !  a  chariot  ap- 
proaching from  the  east,  with  horses  galloping 
wildly,  all  a-wry,  as  though  they  had  seen  a 
spectre,  their  heads  bare  of  trappings,  and  she 
recognised  the  horses  of  the  sons  of  Nera,  and 
behind  them  in  the  chariot  were  two  figures 
headless,  lolling  against  one  another,  as  the 
chariot  leaped  and  fell,  for  Cuculain  had  met 
them  in  the  forest,  and  fought  with  them,  and 
cut  off  their  heads.  And  he  took  the  bits  from 
the  mouths  of  the  horses,  and  the  head-stalls 
from  their  heads.  With  the  reins  he  made 
fast  and  secure  those  brothers  in  their  chariot, 
and  turned  the  faces  of  the  steeds  towards  the 
camp,  and  scourged  them.  Madly  then  they 
flew. 

Alone  upon  a  cairn's  top,  clear  seen  against 
the  eastern  sky,  stood  Sualtam's  son,  the  fos- 
terling and  pupil  of  Fergus,  bright  and  shining 
in  his  young  glory,  and  behind  him  the  unrisen 
sun.  On  high  against  the  Four  Provinces  he 
shook  the  heads  of  the  sons  of  Nera,  held  by  their 
long  yellow  hair,  and  shouted  the  battle  cry  of 
the  Ultonians,  cheerful  as  the  note  of  the  hunter's 
bugle  in  the  dewy  morning  ;  and  he  sang  a  clear 


ONLY  A  MAN  39 

song  of  challenge  and  defiance  against  them, 
and  mocked  and  disparaged  and  derided  them, 
and  laughed,  rejoicing  in  his  youth  and  strength, 
his  agility,  and  his  bravery. 

When  Queen  Meave  became  aware  whose 
were  the  galloping  steeds,  and  saw  the  headless 
figures  streaming  with  blood,  she  screamed  such 
a  cry  as  a  widow  cries  when  they  bring  back  her 
husband  slain,  for  she  looks  up  from  happy 
household  labours,  and  lo,  the  faces  of  them 
that  bear  her  man  dead  are  in  the  doorway.  So 
screamed  the  great  Queen,  and  thinly  clad,  and 
regardless  of  her  dignity  she  rushed  from  the 
tent,  and  Fergus  saw  her,  and  bade  one  bring 
out  her  robe,  but  as  she  ran  she  heard  the  war- 
cry  of  the  Ultonians,  and  lo  !  far  away,  a  warrior 
stood  upon  a  cairn,  shaking  in  his  hands  two 
heads,  held  by  the  long  yellow  hair.  When  he 
saw  her  the  young  Ultonian  dropped  the  heads 
and  bent  his  sling. 

"  Fear  not,  O  Meave,"  he  cried,  "  I  shall  not 
hurt  thee,"  and  he  slang. 

Straightway  the  gold  cath-barr  fell  from 
Meave's  head  smitten  by  a  swift  sling  bolt.  For 
the  lad  could  hit  a  hair  and  fell  the  martin  in  his 
angled  rapid  coursings.  Again  he  shouted  the 
Ultonian  battle-cry,  clearer  than  a  clarion,  and 


40          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NOETH 

he  made  a  certain  boyish  gesture  at  the  great 
army  of  the  Tain,  and  sprang  from  the  cairn,  and 
was  not  seen. 

A  thousand  warriors  ran  forward,  but  they 
could  not  find  the  youth,  nor  yet  the  traces  of 
his  light  feet,  though  the  trackers  of  the  Tain 
wearied  themselves  with  searching  round  and 
about  the  cairn. 

The  man  interred  in  that  cairn  was  Cron-Cu, 
son  of  Adnoman,  son  of  Tath,  son  of  Eogamain, 
son  of  Beogamain.  He  was  the  man  who  was 
held  down  with  difficulty  by  the  mightiest  of 
the  Ultonians.  And  his  spirit  was  aware  of  all ; 
and  he  rejoiced  greatly  in  the  prowess,  skill,  and 
bravery  of  the  young  Ultonian. 

While  they  were  still  stooping  and  searching 
they  heard  a  shrill  cry  towards  the  north  and  lo  ! 
Orloff,  the  Queen's  youngest  son,  rolling  head- 
long out  of  his  chariot,  while  the  reins  fell  from 
his  relaxed  hands,  and  the  steeds  still  galloped. 

After  he  had  slain  the  sons  of  Nera,  and 
uttered  his  challenge  to  the  men  of  Meave, 
Cuculain  running  westwards  through  the  forest, 
and  breaking  through  into  a  certain  glade 
came  on  Orloff  whose  horses  stood  near  him, 
harnessed  to  the  light,  splendid  racing  chariot, 
while  he  himself  kneeling  down,  with  his  car- 


ONLY  A   MAN  41 

penters'  tools  beside  him,  was  smoothing  an  ash 
bough  to  be  a  wheel-spoke  for  his  chariot. 

Then,  hearing  the  noise,  he  looked  up,  and  saw 
Cuculain  standing  above  him,  stained  with  the 
blood  of  the  sons  of  Nera,  and  Orloff  rose  up 
trembling,  and  said  : — 

"  Surely  thou  are  that  Sualtam's  son,  of  whom 
the  warriors  endlessly  converse,  and  now  having 
met  thee,  I  must  die." 

Cuculain  laughed,  and  said,  "  Not  so,  O  youth, 
but  thou  shalt  be  my  captive.  Follow  me  now 
quickly  and  I  shall  not  hurt  thee,  nor  will  I 
bind  thee,  for  I  think  that  thou  art  a  king's  son." 

Now  Orloff,  pretending  to  follow,  presently 
turned  and  fled  to  his  chariot,  and  bounded  over 
the  rim  of  the  same,  snatching  the  goad  from  its 
place,  and  turned  the  horses'  heads  to  the  camp. 
But  Cuculain  pursued  him,  and  overtook  him  as 
he  was  emerging  upon  the  grassy  plain,  and  in 
sight  of  the  camp,  he  drove  his  spear  through  the 
back  of  Orloff,  piercing  the  crimson  fuan,  and  it 
came  out  above  the  brooch  upon  his  breast,  and 
he  rolled  forward  out  of  the  chariot  upon  his 
head.  Cuculain  recovered  his  spear,  and  was 
not  any  more  seen  by  the  men  of  Meave. 


CHAPTER  V 

THE   SLINGER 

SAID  Emer  to  Cuculain  one  day  : — "  There  are 
great  troubles  forward  whose  nature  I  cannot 
foresee,  as  at  other  times,  for  my  prophetic  gift 
is  gone  from  me.  Go  to  Feidelm,  of  beauty 
never  fading,  who  may  instruct  thee  when  I 
cannot,  the  wife  of  Laegairey  of  the  Victories, 
and  deep-seen  in  all  the  lore  that  has  to  do 
with  the  coming  times." 

Cuculain  then  made  an  appointment  with 
Feidelm  for  a  certain  day.  On  the  morning 
next  before  that  day  Emer  said  to  him  : — "  Go 
not." 

"  I  gave  a  clear  promise,"  he  answered,  "  and 
made  a  certain  appointment." 

'  There  are  great  troubles  forward,  very 
great  troubles,"  she  answered.  '  Things  evil 
and  to  thee  malign  are  abroad  ;  but  my  mind  is 
confused,  and  the  seeing  power  gone  from  me." 

Cuculain    answered    her    affectionately,    but 

42 


THE   SLTNGER  43 

lightly,    for  he   made    nothing   of  the   omens. 

Then  Emer,  brave  amid  her  tears,  stored  his 
chariot  with  provant  and  things  needful  for  a 
long  journey. 

In  the  beautiful  dawn  he  drave  forth  out  of 
Dun-Dalgan,  alone,  save  for  the  companionship 
of  his  blackbirds.  On  the  rim  of  the  chariot 
they  sat  and  fluted  melodiously.  Presently 
he  was  aware  of  the  sound  of  wheels  and  horses' 
hoofs  behind  him,  and  looking  back,  saw  Sualtam, 
his  father,  following  in  haste.  As  a  child  loves 
to  be  with  an  elder  brother,  so  ever  Sualtam 
desired  the  companionship  of  his  son.  Cuculain 
slackened  his  pace  till  his  father  came  up  with 
him.  So  they  rode  on  together,  and  crossed 
the  mearing  of  the  province.  Looking  back 
Cuculain  saw  the  Druidic  mist  how  it  covered 
the  province  like  a  fleece,  and  he  marvelled  what 
that  might  mean. 

In  the  evening  they  came  to  a  glade  and 
camped  there.  Sualtam  desired  to  wait  on  his 
son  ;  Cuculain  would  not  permit  him,  but  waited 
on  his  father.  Also  he  tethered  and  grazed 
Sualtam's  horses  in  that  part  of  the  glade  which 
was  filled  with  rich  grass,  and  his  own  in  that 
part  of  it  where  the  grass  was  thin.  This  was 
the  glade  which  the  sons  of  Nera  found  so 


44          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

closely  cropped.  Early  next  day,  in  the  still 
morning,  he  awoke  and  heard,  as  it  were,  the 
clamour  of  a  mighty  host.  He  climbed  into  the 
branches  of  a  lofty  beech-tree,  and  far-away, 
saw  the  standard  of  Queen  Meave,  and  the 
banners  of  the  sons  of  Heber  and  Ith,  and  the 
standard  of  Tara,  and  of  the  children  of  Leairy 
Lore,  and  the  whole  host  already  in  motion 
with  their  faces  to  the  North. 

Cuculain  thereupon  made  great  haste  and 
came  down,  swinging  rapidly  from  branch  to 
branch  like  a  wood-cat,  his  scarlet  bratta  flashing 
amid  the  green  leaves,  and  awoke  his  father, 
and  bade  him  to  urge  his  steeds  swiftly  north- 
ward to  Ath-na-Forarey,  and  Emain  Macha, 
and  to  arouse  the  Red  Branch  far  and  wide,  for 
that  the  Four  Provinces  of  Erin  were  gathered 
together  for  the  devastation  of  Ulla.  Sualtam 
made  haste  and  scourged  his  steeds,  and  they 
flew  northward,  but  Cuculain  held  on  upon  his 
straight  course  to  the  South. 

Nevertheless  the  prophetess  was  dumb  on  this 
occasion,  or  spoke  wild  and  sounding  words  void 
of  meaning.  She  was  an  Ultonian,  and  on  the 
noble  women  of  the  Red  Branch,  too,  the  curse 
had  fallen,  for  what  enchantment  can  possess 
men  if  women  be  immune  from  the  same,  and 


THE    SLINGER  45 

keep  good  watch  and  ward,  who  are  them- 
selves potent  above  all  and  matchless  whether 
to  cure  men's  souls  or  make  them  sick. 

Cuculain  departed  from  Tara  enraged  at  his 
fool's  errand.  He  noted  the  emptiness  of  Tara 
as  he  came  and  as  he  went,  and  galloped  his 
horses  till  he  came  on  the  trail  of  the  Tain.  He 
examined  the  track  narrowly,  and  said,  "  Eigh- 
teen great  battalions  have  gone  this  road,  but 
the  eighteenth  has  been  distributed  amongst 
the  seventeen." 

And  that  surmise  was  correct,  for  Queen 
Meave  fearing  one  battalion,  the  Fir-Gaileen, 
pre-eminent  in  bravery  and  activity  and  mutual 
loyalty  and  affection,  had  broken  up  the  same 
and  distributed  it  among  the  rest. 

Then  he  fetched  a  compass  and  skirted  the  sea, 
and  came  out  in  front  of  the  Four  Provinces 
moving  on  before  them  to  Cooalney.  That  day 
he  hooped  the  oak  sapling  and  cut  upon  it  in 
Ogham  his  defiance  and  challenge  of  chivalry 
to  the  great  invading  host.  The  day  after  that 
he  challenged  them  again  with  the  cast  of  the 
fir  tree,  and  upon  the  third  day  he  fell  upon  the 
vanguard  and  slew  Orloff  and  the  sons  of  Nera. 
Very  happy  and  vain-glorious  was  he  in  his 
mind  these  days  and  nights,  trusting  to  his 


46          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

swiftness  and  impetuosity,  and  to  his  skill  in 
war,  and  his  incredible  accuracy  of  slinging,  and 
to  the  art  known  only  to  himself  of  erasing  the 
traces  of  his  own  feet  and  of  his  chariot  wheels. 
Every  day  and  night  he  looked  and  listened  for 
the  coming  of  the  Red  Branch.  He  feared  their 
premature  advent  before  he  should  have  done 
some  notable  exploits  upon  the  foe,  such  as 
cutting  off  their  scouting  parties  and  stragglers, 
and  shooting  them  in  their  camps  on  nights 
when  the  moon  and  stars  shone  brightly.  For 
all  athirst  was  the  lad's  soul  for  glory  and 
renown,  and  that  his  name  and  his  achieve- 
ments should  be  commemorated  to  the  war 
songs  of  his  nation. 

Next  day  the  great  host  of  the  Tain  pitched 
their  camp  in  a  clear  space  which  was  com- 
manded by  highlands.  The  sun  set,  and  not 
long  after  the  moon  rose  and  the  stars  began  to 
shine,  and  the  blue  hills  all  round,  and  the  wide 
horizon  were  bathed  in  the  moony  glare.  Then, 
when  the  host  was  preparing  the  booths  of  the 
chieftains  and  their  rushy  beds,  cooking  sup- 
pers, and  cleaning  chariots  and  horses,  and  a 
vast  din  arose  out  of  the  camp,  suddenly  there 
was  a  cry  as  of  a  warrior  smitten  to  his  death, 
and  the  whole  host  became  silent,  like  the  sea 


THE   SLINGEB  47 

beneath  frosty  stars  when  its  waves  fall  down 
and  are  still,  and  in  that  stillness  was  heard  a 
faint,  clear,  far-off  twang,  mingled  with  hissing, 
followed  by  another  cry,  as  of  a  man  smitten. 
Then  one  uttered  the  word,  "  Cuculain,"  and  the 
whole  host  was  in  an  uproar,  and  numerous 
battalions  sallied  forth,  scouring  the  forest  and 
the  hillsides  the  whole  night.  But  now  in 
front  and  now  behind,  from  the  South  and  from 
the  North,  sounded  the  clear  twang  of  the  Crann 
Tabal,  and  ever  some  warrior  cried  out,  smitten 
by  the  deadly  bolt.  Then  there  was  held  a 
council  of  the  kings,  and  Meave  was  not  there, 
but  Fergus  Mac  Roy  occupied  her  place  on  the 
right  hand  of  Aileel,  and  the  authority  of  Fergus 
was  great  over  the  kings,  for  Meave  had  sent 
messengers  to  each  of  them  that  they  should 
obey  Fergus.  But  when  men  inquired  of  Fergus 
concerning  Cuculain,  Fergus  related  the  first 
coming  of  Cuculain  to  Emain  Macha,  and  the 
dispersion  of  the  young  nobles  before  the  king's 
palace,  and  Cormac  Conlingas  took  up  the  tale, 
and  told  how  while  still  a  child  he  slew  the 
hound  of  Culain,  the  smith,  and  acquired  his 
surname,  and  how  he  had  attached  himself  to 
Fergus  above  all  the  other  knights,  and  other 
Ultonian  exiles  told  many  surprising  things 


48          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

concerning  the  youth.  Then  the  kings  proposed 
that  Fergus  should  go  to  him  and  offer  a  great 
bribe,  so  that  he  might  pass  over  to  the  host  of 
Meave,  and  forsake  the  Red  Branch. 


CHAPTER  VI. 
ETERCOMAL'S  FOLLY  AND  DEATH. 

FERGUS  said,  "  Ye  will  not  persuade  him,  for 
when  I  rebelled  against  Concobar  Mac  Nessa,  one 
not  sent  by  me,  urged  him  to  leave  the  school 
at  Emain  Macha,  and  come  out  and  join  our 
hosting.  He  wept  bitterly,  but  would  not  come 
out.  Neither  will  you  persuade  him  now,  when 
he  is  sworn  knight  to  his  King." 

Nevertheless,  the  project  was  pleasing  to  the 
assembled  kings,  and  Fergus  consented  to  bear 
the  conditions  of  Cuculain. 

Early  in  the  morning  Fergus  Mac  Roy  went 
forth  by  himself,  and  journeyed  far  through  the 
forest  going  northwards.  He  ascended  a  clear 
eminence  and  thence  sent  out  his  voice  of  power 
calling  Cuculain  by  his  old  name,  Setanta. 
Birds  without  number  arose  out  of  the  woods 
at  that  unusual  sound,  and  there  was  a  vast 
commotion  and  a  trampling  of  unseen  feet,  for 
the  forestine  tribes  and  populations  were  much 

49  E 


50          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

disturbed  in  their  minds  when  they  heard  the 
voice  of  that  ex-Champion  of  the  North.  Simul- 
taneously, too,  there  arose  one  glad  and  clear 
cry,  for  Cuculain  heard  him,  and  hastened  to 
meet  him.  His  light  feet  as  he  ran  was  like  the 
sound  of  galloping  steeds.  Fergus,  too,  has- 
tened to  meet  his  dear  pupil,  bursting  through 
the  undergrowth  and  dense  boscage  of  the  forest 
and  when  they  met  they  embraced  and  kissed 
each  other,  and  wept  for  a  long  time. 

Fergus  told  him  the  conditions  which  he  had 
come  bearing,  and  Cuculain  answered  resolutely 
that  he  would  not  forsake  the  Red  Branch,  not 
for  all  the  jewels  in  the  world.  Then  Cuculain 
led  Fergus  along  with  him,  and  brought  him  to 
his  secret  place,  and  there  were  his  horses  feeding, 
and  his  chariot,  and  no  wheel  tracks  leading 
thither.  He  arranged  skins  for  Fergus,  and 
went  down  to  the  stream  below  and  speared  a 
salmon,  and  with  his  sling  he  slew  a  wild  goose 
in  the  marshes  of  the  river,  and  he  returned  to 
Fergus.  He  lit  a  fire  and  cooked  them,  and  took 
mead  and  ale  out  of  his  chariot,  and  they  ate 
and  drank  and  caroused  and  conversed  until  the 
evening  star  arose.  Then  Fergus  went  away  to 
where  was  his  chariot,  and  returned  to  the 
camp. 


ETERCOMAL'S  FOLLY  AND  DEATH  51 

Amongst  the  assembled  kings  that  night  he 
told  how  Cuculain  had  scorned  their  bribe,  and 
even  as  he  spoke,  the  Crann  Tabal  sounded  from 
the  distant  hills,  and  the  people  died.  But  the 
kings  said  that  the  bribe  was  not  sufficient,  and 
urged  Meave  to  offer  to  him  her  daughter  Finda- 
bar  in  marriage.  Meave  at  first  answered  hotly 
and  proudly.  Afterwards  she  smiled  an  evil 
smile,  and  consented  ;  she  said  too  that  Cuculain 
should  be  governor  of  Olnemacta  under  her,  to 
the  exclusion  of  her  own  sons,  or  that,  if  he 
preferred  it,  she  would  make  him  Monarch  of 
Ulla,  in  the  room  of  Concobar  Mac  Nessa. 

Then  Fergus  arose  in  great  wrath,  and  dashed 
his  spear  upon  the  ground  ;  his  eyes  burned  like 
coals  of  fire,  and  his  voice  was  hoarse  with 
anger. 

"  Full  well  I  know  thy  meaning,  and  in  vain 
wouldst  thou  conceal  from  me  the  thing  that  is 
in  thy  mind,  O  crafty  and  perverse  woman. 
Yet  Cuculain  thou  shalt  not  this  time  ensnare 
to  his  destruction  with  lies.  Nevertheless,  I 
am  willing  to  go  to  him  with  these  conditions 
if  the  assembled  kings  will  guarantee  their 
performance,  and  take  the  young  hero  Cuculain 
under  their  protection." 

On  this  occasion  Meave  trembled  before  the 


52          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

wrath  of  Fergus,  and  the  assembled  kings,  Ket, 
son  of  Magah,  Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  and  Nath- 
crandal,  and  Lok  Mac  Favash  guaranteed  the 
performance  of  the  conditions,  and  extended 
their  protection  to  Qiculain. 

In  the  morning  Fergus  Mac  Roy  went  for  the 
second  time  to  Cuculain's  secret  place.  He 
found  him  lying  on  the  ground  upon  his  back, 
with  a  red-billed  blackbird  standing  upon  his 
hand,  and  himself  and  the  blackbird  whistling 
to  one  another  alternately.  When  he  saw  Fergus 
he  started  to  his  feet,  and  received  him  affec- 
tionately and  hospitably  as  the  day  before. 
But  when  Fergus  told  him  the  conditions  which 
he  had  come  bearing,  the  lad  blushed  and  looked 
down  upon  the  ground,  and  traced  with  the  point 
of  his  spear  upon  the  ground.  Fergus  said  no 
more,  and  after  that  they  feasted  and  caroused 
and  conversed  till  the  evening  star  arose. 

Said  Fergus :  "  Is  there  any  condition  on  which 
thou  wilt  cease  slaying  the  people  ?  "  And 
Cuculain  said,  "  There  is,  but  it  shall  be  proposed 
by  Meave,  not  by  me." 

After  that  Fergus  departed,  and  returned  to 
the  camp,  and  Cuculain  look  his  sling,  and  clomb 
to  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  looked  northwards, 
and  saw  no  sign  of  life  throughout  broad  Ulla 


ETERCOMAL'S  FOLLY  AND  DEATH  53 

He  was  astonished  and  perplexed  at  the  silence 
and  the  incredible  quietude  and  tranquillity 
which  prevailed  there.  Long  he  stood  and 
watched  and  listened,  and  at  last  with  long 
strides  and  wide  eyes  wondering  returned  to  his 
secret  place.  The  mares  whinnied  and  the 
blackbirds  lifted  up  their  voices  when  they  heard 
his  light  feet. 

But  before  the  assembled  kings  that  night  in 
Meave's  camp,  Fergus  Mac  Roy  related  the  rejec- 
tion of  their  conditions,  and  Meave  said,  "  There 
are  a  hundred  of  our  people  slain  every  night, 
and  my  trackers  and  scouts  cannot  surround 
him  ;  for  when  seen  he  ever  evades  them  with 
his  light  feet,  and  if  my  people  so  perish  night 
by  night,  I  think  not  many  of  us  will  cross  the 
Shannon  returning  to  Olnemacta,  nor  of  our 
allies  to  their  own  home.  Is  there  any  condi- 
tion which  this  bloody  youth  will  accept,  and  so 
cease  from  his  slinging  and  slaying  ?  " 

And  Fergus  said,  "  There  is,  but  he  would  not 
make  it  known  to  me  ;  he  said  that  we  ourselves 
should  propose  it." 

They  debated  what  this  might  be,  and  when 
they  came  to  no  result,  they  appealed  again  to 
Fergus. 

Fergus  said  : — 


54  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

"  Brave,  and  not  bloody-minded,  is  Cuculain, 
and  he  loves  not  this  nocturnal  slaughter 
which  he  inflicts  upon  us,  nightly,  guarding 
the  borders  of  the  Crave  Rue.  Let  us  make 
a  treaty  with  Cuculain  after  this  manner : 
That  the  host  of  Meave  shall  not  cross  the 
Avon  Dia  invading  the  lands  of  Ulla  until 
Cuculain  be  subdued  in  single  combat,  and 
that  he  shall  undertake  to  meet  a  warrior 
each  day." 

The  kings  were  surprised  if  Cuculain  would 
accept  such  conditions,  but  nay  the  less,  they 
and  Meave  ratified  the  proposal. 

In  the  morning,  when  Fergus  was  ascending 
his  chariot,  he  saw  a  youth  of  the  camp  entering 
his  chariot  also,  as  though  he  would  follow  him. 
Said  Fergus  : — 

"  Who  art  thou,  O  youth  ?  " 

"  I  am  a  flaut  of  the  Clan  Farna,  and  of  no 
mean  reputation,  both  amongst  my  own  people 
at  home,  and  here  amid  the  congregated  nations 
of  the  Tain.  Etercomal  men  call  me,  and  it  is 
not  creditable  to  thee,  son  of  Rossa,  to  be 
ignorant  of  the  same." 

"  Prithee,  why  stirring  so  early  before  the 
breaking  of  the  day  ?  " 

"  I  desire  to  give  my  horses  exercise." 


ETERCOMAL'S  FOLLY  AND  DEATH  55 

"  Beware  how  thou  followest  me,"  said  Fergus, 
"  for  I  shall  slay  thee." 

Then  Fergus  and  his  charioteer  rode  away 
northwards,  and  after  a  space  Etercomal  and  his 
charioteer  went  after.  In  his  silly  heart  he 
threatened  great  things,  and  deemed  that  huge 
renown  would  be  his  before  the  setting  of  the 
sun.  From  the  shores  of  Inver  Scena  had  he 
come,  where  his  dun  looked  across  the  great 
mere.  Chieftains  not  many  were  around  him  in 
that  barren  region,  and  he  was  great  in  his  own 
eyes,  loquacious  and  empty,  and  buzzed  around 
the  camp  like  a  bee.  His  mother  had  sent  him 
forth  boasting  that  no  braver  warrior  followed  in 
the  Tain,  and  she  lamented  that  she  had  per- 
mitted him  to  follow  arms,  for  that  in  science  and 
poetry  his  excellence  was  as  great,  and  he  might 
be  Ard-Druid  or  Ard-Ollav  of  all  Erin,  had  he 
chosen  to  excel  in  those  arts  ;  and  much  she 
boasted  about  him  amongst  her  women,  and 
amongst  her  vassals. 

Fergus  went  forward  to  where  Cuculain  was, 
and  Cuculain  hastened  to  meet  him.  There 
Fergus  unfolded  the  terms  to  Cuculain,  and 
Cuculain  rejoiced  when  he  heard.  After  that 
Fergus  departed  from  him,  but  ere  long  he 
observed  the  double  track,  and,  fearing 


56         IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NOETH 

treachery  bade  the  charioteer  return  at  full 
speed. 

Etercomal,  on  his  side,  had  followed  till  the 
chariot  of  Fergus  stopped,  and  after  that  he 
drew  aside  into  the  forest,  and  descending, 
followed  Fergus  Mac  Roy,  treading  the  intri- 
cacies of  the  labyrinth.  Nevertheless,  he  went 
cautiously,  for  great  was  his  fear  of  Fergus. 
When  Fergus  had  departed  from  Cuculain, 
he  returned  to  his  charioteer  exulting,  and  they 
galloped  up  the  dell.  Cuculain  looked  forth 
and  saw  a  warrior  advancing  towards  him.  He 
came  out  to  meet  him  hospitably,  and  inquired 
the  cause  of  his  coming. 

"  I  am  come  to  see  thee,"  said  Etercomal, 
"  to  know  whether  thy  fame  is  equal  to  thy  de- 
serts." 

Cuculain  laughed  and  said,  "  And  now  having 
seen  me,  how  do  I  appear  unto  you  ?  " 

And  Etercomal  answered,  "  Thou  art  comely, 
indeed,  and  not  unwarlike  to  look  upon,  but 
amongst  great  warriors  thou  wouldst  not  be 
noticed  at  all,  nor  even  amongst  forward  strip- 
lings wouldst  thou  attract  any  considerable 
attention,  and  I  believe  that  I  myself  could 
easily  subdue  thee." 

And  Cuculain  said,  "  Return  now,  O  youth, 


ETERCOMAI,  S   FOI,I,Y  AND   DEATH  57 

unharmed  to  the  camp,  for  I  think  that  under 
the  protection  of  Fergus,  my  friend  and  tutor, 
thou  hast  come  here.  Therefore,  I  would  not 
harm  thee.  Return  again  to  the  camp." 

Then  Etercomal  began  to  be  very  brave,  and 
he  reviled  Cuculain,  and  stepped  forward  to  slay 
him.  Therefore  Cuculain  made  haste  to  where 
were  his  weapons,  and  facing  Etercomal,  he 
executed  a  dexterous  swordstroke  at  the  feet 
of  the  youth,  by  which  he  jerked  a  clod  of  the 
green  turf  into  his  breast,  cone-shaped,  cut 
with  a  rapid  turn  of  the  wrist.  "  Return  back 
to  the  camp,  now,  for  I  would  not  slay  thee," 
cried  Cuculain,  but  he  would  not.  After  that 
Cuculain  made  a  rapid  stroke  behind  the  shield 
of  the  other,  and  shore  clean  away  the  apple 
of  gold  into  which  his  hair  between  his  shoulders 
was  fastened.  But  when  he  still  pressed  on, 
Cuculain's  anger  rose,  and  he  put  his  sword 
through  him.  The  charioteer  took  away  the 
body  and  bore  it  back  to  the  camp,  and  Fergus 
met  him,  and  turned  back  likewise. 


CHAPTER  VII 

FIGHTINGS  AT  THE  FORD 

THAT  night  among  the  assembled  kings,  Fergus 
told  how  Cuculain  had  accepted  the  conditions 
proposed  by  the  Four  Provinces. 

Then  said  Meave,  "  I  greatly  desire  to  behold 
this  youth,  and  I  prithee,  O  Fergus,  bring  him 
down  with  thee  into  the  camp,  that  we  may  see 
him."  Fergus  looked  narrowly  upon  the  Queen, 
but  she  said  : 

"  I  meditate  no  guile  against  the  youth, 
though  my  dear  son,  Orloff,  was  slain  by  his 
hands  ;  for  well  I  know  that  if  he  accepts  these 
conditions,  not  many  hours  longer  will  he  behold 
the  sun.  Moreover,  these  kings  and  myself 
extend  to  him  our  protection,  and  guarantee  to 
him  a  safe  departure  out  of  the  camp." 

Next  morning,  ere  the  sun  rose,  Fergus  set 
forth  for  the  last  time  with  chariots  and  horse- 
men, and  returned  with  Cuculain,  and  Cuculain's 
friends  who  were  in  the  camp  ran  forward  to 

58 


FIGHTINGS   AT  THE   FORD  59 

meet  him — warriors  who  had  been  fostered  at 
the  court  of  Concobar  Mac  Nessa,  ere  enmity 
had  risen  through  the  expatriation  of  Fergus, 
and  the  supremacy  of  the  great  Queen — Lewy 
Mac  Neesh,  and  Fir  Mac  Be,  and  many  others, 
for  Cuculain  had  many  friends  ;  but  there  came 
not  Fardia,  dearest  of  all,  chief  of  the  western 
Firbolgs,  who  had  been  a  fellow  pupil  with 
Cuculain,  under  the  tuition  of  Skya,  warrior 
queen  of  the  ragged  Isle  far  away  in  the  northern 
seas. 

The  kings  of  Erin  were  astonished  when  they 
saw  and  conversed  with  Cuculain,  for  smooth 
and  pleasant  was  his  countenance,  and  his 
stature  not  great.  That  day  he  played  at  hurley 
with  the  young  men,  and  they  gave  him  a  change 
of  raiment  and  a  keeve  of  water  in  his  wattled 
house,  and  he  bathed  and  dressed  himself  and 
came  to  the  feast.  And  the  great  Queen  had  pity 
on  him  when  she  saw  him,  and  knew  that  ere 
long  he  would  be  slain,  guarding  the  frontiers 
of  the  nation.  She  relented,  too,  from  her 
wrath  for  the  slaying  of  Orloff  and  the  sons  of 
Nera,  and  she  bade  the  Seneschal  place  him 
between  herself  and  Aileel  at  the  banquet,  and 
Cuculain  hearkened  to  Aileel  as  he  spoke,  lis- 
tening to  the  old  man  attentively  and  intelli- 


6o          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

gently.  To  Fergus  it  was  a  pleasure  to  note  that 
the  lad  observed  all  the  gentle  laws  in  which  he 
had  been  instructed. 

Seeing  him  now  close  at  hand  and  conversing 
with  him,  and  observing  his  modesty,  the  men 
of  Meave  made  no  account  of  Cuculain.  They 
lamented,  too,  that  he  was  not  more  great  and 
terrible,  for  they  hoped  to  see  some  notable 
examples  of  battle-valour  in  the  combats  which 
were  now  to  take  place  at  the  ford  of  the  Avon 
Dia,  for  his  marvellous  slinging  had  raised  much 
expectation  in  the  camp.  On  the  morrow, 
when  he  departed,  the  great  Queen  kissed  the 
youth  before  the  whole  host,  for  very  gentle  was 
the  aspect  of  Cuculain,  and  the  women  of  the 
Tain  grieved  and  conversed  together  concerning 
him  and  his  untimely  death. 

Then  came  Far-Cu,  of  the  Fairy  Bank  of  the 
Nore,  fierce,  dog-headed,  and  demanded  per- 
mission to  slay  Cuculain  upon  the  morrow,  and 
Meave  trembled  upon  her  throne  when  he  thrust 
himself  into  the  assembly,  and  with  hateful 
clamour  and  vociferation,  declared  that  he  alone 
was  the  hound  of  battle  among  the  Gaeil,  and 
that  he  would  mangle  and  devour  the  northern 
mongrel  before  the  eyes  of  the  four  provinces. 
Then,  on  the  morrow,  Cuculain  came  down  from 


FIGHTINGS   AT  THE  FORD  6l 

his  dell,  and  Far-Cu  rushed  upon  him,  and  Cucu- 
lain  slew  him  there  amid  the  loud  acclamations 
of  the  great  host  of  the  Tain,  a  heaven-ascending 
uproar,  for  he  was  loved  by  none.  Cuculain 
slew  him  there  before  the  host,  and  left  his  car- 
case lying  half  in  and  half  out  of  the  river-ford, 
and  the  eels  came  around  it  feeding,  but  in  the 
evening  Cormac  Conlingas  sent  certain  of  his 
people  and  they  took  him  away  and  buried 
him.  The  men  of  Meave  rejoiced  now,  for  they 
promised  themselves  abundant  entertainment 
in  the  matter  of  good  swordsmanship  and  bril- 
liant feats  of  arms,  and  when  afterwards  Cas 
Fohla,  the  cunning  swordsman  of  Tara,  fell 
before  him  their  joy  was  very  great. 

That  man  taught  the  use  of  the  sword  to  the 
twelve  standing  battalions,  who  were  known  as 
the  Pillars  of  Tara,  and  to  him  his  sword  was 
his  god  to  whom  he  prayed,  and  whom  he  wor- 
shipped with  bloody  rites.  Nevertheless,  his 
god  was  not  able  to  save  him  on  this  occasion. 

Afterwards  he  slew  Bron  and  Brecna,  men  of 
gceat  bulk  and  strength,  and  the  bald  Fion, 
champion  of  the  Dergtheena  and  others,  whose 
names  are  not  recorded.  Morning  and  evening 
he  climbed  a  hill  and  looked  northwards  to  see 
if  the  Red  Branch  were  coming  to  assist  him  ; 


62          IN  THE  GATES  OP  THE  NORTH 

and  his  grief  and  wonder  increased,  for  in  spite 
of  his  victories  he  was  not  unscathed,  and  his 
strength  and  activity  were  not  what  they  had 
been,  and  more  and  ever  more  formidable 
day  by  day  were  the  champions  who  came  forth 
against  him  from  the  great  host.  Then,  too,  day 
by  day,  the  loneliness  and  the  thought  that  he 
was  forsaken  grew  up  on  him. 

Next  day  Fer-Ai,  of  the  Fairy  Bank  of  Cru- 
hane,  was  chosen  to  meet  him.  He  was  a  man 
of  a  fierce  and  dour  countenance,  a  noted  duellist 
who  had  slain  many  men.  He  would  attend 
banquets  where  his  drink  was  for  the  most  part 
water,  and  there  fasten  quarrels  on  those  who 
caroused,  and  afterwards  slay  them  without 
difficulty  in  the  dewy  dawn.  To  all  the  bright 
hosts  of  the  morning  who  run  before  and  an- 
nounce the  coming  of  the  Sun,  he  was  a  special 
horror  and  abomination. 

"  If  the  man  meet  with  hurt,"  said  the  Saba, 
"  it  will  be  a  minishing  of  our  slain  on  this 
road." 

The  man  refused. 

"  Nay,"  said  the  kings,  "  go  forth  thou  shalt. 
Otherwise  we  ourselves  will  slay  thee,  and 
across  thy  grave  fling  the  three  throws  of  infamy 
and  dishonour." 


FIGHTINGS  AT  THE  FORD  63 

Perforce  then  the  man  went  forth. 

In  this  engagement  Cuculain's  battle-madness 
descended  upon  him,  and  with  the  stroke  oblique- 
transverse  he  made  of  that  man  three  parts 
falling  horribly  into  the  stream,  and  he  washed 
his  sword  in  the  stream,  and  dried  it,  and  restored 
it  to  its  sheath,  in  silence,  and  he  flung  his 
broad  shield  behind  him  and  strode  away  into 
the  forest.  In  silence,  too,  the  host  watched 
him  as  he  went ;  in  size  he  appeared  to  them  to 
be  greater,  and  of  stature  more  exalted,  and  of 
aspect  more  terrible.  Silently  they  separated 
and  dispersed  each  man  to  his  tent  while  the 
Avon  Dia  rolled  down  those  bloody  fragments 
to  the  sea. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  RED  BRANCH 

ON  the  seventh  evening  Cuculain  climbed  again 
to  the  crest  of  that  mountain  and  looked  north- 
wards, and  lo  !  all  Ulla  as  if  in  perfect  peace  and 
profound  tranquillity.  Then  he  saw  something 
that  moved,  a  chariot  and  horses,  and  a  man  in 
the  chariot,  who  furiously  scourged  the  horses 
with  his  left  hand  while  his  right  hung  limp  by 
his  side.  It  was  Sualtam,  his  father, — and 
returning  alone  out  of  the  North  !  Cuculain 
hastened  to  meet  him. 

Sualtam  gave  thanks  to  the  gods  that  Cucu- 
lain was  yet  alive,  and  said,  "  111  is  the  news 
that  I  bring  to  thee,  O  Setanta.  Enchanted 
are  all  the  warlike  clans  of  Ulla,  so  that  they  are 
sunk  in  a  mortal  stupefaction  or  wildly  raving 
like  men  whose  intelligence  has  been  taken 
away."  Cuculain  was  very  sorrowful ;  but, 
nevertheless,  he  led  Sualtam  to  his  secret  recess, 
and  unharnessed  the  horses  and  gave  them  drink. 

64 


THE  AFFLICTION   OF   THE   RED  BRANCH  65 

He  took  his  father  to  the  stream  and  drew  up  the 
sleeve  of  his  flaxen  lena,  and  washed  the  blood 
away  from  his  elbow  and  dried  the  wound  care- 
fully, and  bound  it  up.  Then  he  kindled  a  fire 
and  cooked  supper.  As  a  servant  who  has  come 
out  of  great  jeopardy,  having  faithfully  dis- 
charged the  commands  of  his  master  and  has 
returned  to  him  in  safety,  so  was  Sualtam  that 
night  when  he  had  come  back  to  his  dear  son. 
They  drank  ale  and  metheglin  afterwards  under 
the  trees,  and  Sualtam  told  his  son  all  that  had 
happened  to  him. 

Parting  from  thee,  O  Setanta,  I  urged  my 
steeds  first  to  Dun  Fachna  for  it  was  nigh  me, 
passing  between  many  flocks  and  herds  feeding 
in  the  rich  pasture,  and  ascended  the  high  road 
to  where  was  the  king's  dun.  There  were 
many  craftsmen  labouring  and  there  was  a  noise 
of  much  industry.  When  I  inquired  for  the 
king  they  pointed  upwards,  and  like  a  flock  of 
crows,  I  saw  warriors  in  dark  brattas  on  the 
hill-side  sitting.  I  ascended  to  where  they  were 
and  asked  for  Fachna,  son  of  the  Bear,  but  he 
himself  roared  like  brattling  thunder  above  my 
head,  and  waved  with  his  left  hand  towards 
Emain  Macha.  Filled  with  terror  I  escaped  out 
of  that  place  joyfully. 

F 


66          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

"  I  came  to  Ath-na-Forarey,  and  on  the  white 
cairn  there  was  no  sentinel,  nor  any  that  kept 
watch  and  ward  in  all  the  place,  nor  chariots 
yoked,  nor  men  of  war  prepared  to  meet  an 
enemy.  On  the  lawn  of  the  dun  lay  Conall 
himself,  carving  an  ogham  upon  the  blade  of  his 
sword.  He  did  not  look  up  when  I  spake  to  him, 
but  answered  mildly,  '  If  what  thou  sayest  be 
true,  then  thy  wares  are  good.  Pass  on  into  the 
province,  and  see  that  thou  impose  upon  no 
one/  And  though  many  times  I  told  him  of 
thy  peril,  yet  ever  he  took  the  drift  of  my 
speech  awry. 

"  I  came  to  Emain  Macha,  and  cried  out  in  the 
city  as  I  went  through,  and  the  timorous  citizens 
flocked  after  me.  As  I  approached  the  royal 
Dun,  I  heard  the  war-steeds  neighing  in  their 
stables,  and  pulling  madly  at  their  halters. 
Leaning  against  the  left  jamb  of  the  great  gate 
of  the  stable  and  chariot  house  I  saw  Laeg,  son 
of  Gabra's  king,  thy  own  skilful,  impetuous,  faith- 
ful, and  affectionate  charioteer,  dear  Setanta, 
and  he  with  raiment  soiled  and  disordered,  and 
like  one  who  had  slept  for  many  nights  in  his 
day  apparel." 

Cuculain  moaned  and  wrung  unavailing  hands, 
and  bowed  his  comely  head  low  between  his 


THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  RED  BRANCH        67 

white  knees  that  shone  in  the  firelight,  while 
Sualtam  went  on  with  his  tale. 

"  What  doest  thou  here,  O  Laeg,"  I  cried, 
"  Son  of  Gabra's  king,  heart's  friend,  and  sworn 
servant,  and  comrade,  and  charioteer,  to  my 
own  son — What  doest  thou  here,  while  my  own 
son,  alone,  defends  Ulla  against  the  Four 
Provinces  ?  " 

He  raised  sorrowful  eyes  and  gazed  on  me 
without  reply.  His  countenance  was  like  that 
of  a  man  who  has  lost  his  way. 

"  Even  as  I  spake,  I  heard  a  great  clamour  in 
the  king's  dun,  the  shouting  of  warriors  and  the 
clash  of  smitten  shields,  and  lo  !  in  the  Tec 
Meadcuarata,  the  great  mead-circling  hall,  the 
knights  of  Concobar  Mac  Nessa,  the  chiefs  of 
the  standing  battalion  of  Emain  Macha,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  chamber,  Concobar  Mac  Nessa, 
and  he  harangued  them.  Of  ancient  prophecy 
then  much  he  spake,  and  of  the  ancestors  of  the 
Crave  Rue,  of  Rury  Mor  and  Ollam  Fodla,  of 
Ciombaoth,  and  Macha,  and  of  Ir,  the  great 
son  of  Milith ;  of  the  Gael,  too,  how  they  were 
one  race  and  of  one  tongue,  and  of  the  Clanna 
Rury  leading  the  children  of  Milith,  and  of  the 
subjugation  of  foreign  lands,  and  of  an  Empire 
reaching  to  the  Torrian  sea,  and  I  know  not 


68 

what  other  childish  talk  ;  but  the  face  of  every 
warrior  was  like  a  flame  and  there  was  a  huge 
uproar.  I  sprang  into  the  midst  of  the  assembly, 
crying  out, '  Cuculain  is  alone  contending  against 
the  Four  Provinces/  and  Concobar  answered, 
'  Thou  bringest  good  news,  old  man ;  bid  him 
be  regent  of  the  Four  Provinces  till  we  return.' 

'  Your  minds  are  disordered/  I  cried  in 
reply,  '  and  your  understandings  are  gone  from 
you.' 

'  Nay,  nay,  dear  Sualtam/  he  answered, 
with  gentle  courtesy,  and  as  if  he  were  speaking 
to  a  child  or  to  a  man  very  aged,  '  this  is  my 
Saba  of  which  thou  art  not  one.  Leave  us  now, 
and  afterwards  at  supper  sit  at  my  right  hand.' 

'  When  I  had  left  he  turned  to  his  knights 
and  said  with  a  smile,  '  Is  it  not  strange  that  one 
known  to  be  witless  should  bring  the  charge  of 
witlessness  against  us  ?  ' 

'  They  smiled  too  in  pity,  thinking  each  of 
them  of  the  days  when  I  was  great,  brave, 
strong,  and  understanding.  It  was  I  who  forced 
the  race,  I  assisted  at  the  delivery  of  the 
swineherds." 

"  Who  were  the  swineherds  and  what  the 
delivery,"  asked  Cuculain, 

Sualtam  could  not  tell. 


THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  RED  BRANCH       69 

"  I  spent  that  night  in  the  city,  nor  returned 
again  to  the  great  dun. 

"  Certain  young  men  from  the  Court  came  to 
wait  on  me.  They  said  that  talk  such  as  that 
which  I  had  heard  went  on  daily,  but  there  was 
no  preparation  whatsoever,  and  that  the  Empire 
of  Concobar  began  and  ended  with  the 
tongue.  When  I  was  young,  dear  Setanta,  we 
despised  the  man  who  talked  much  even  when  his 
words  betrayed  intelligence  and  understanding. 

"  When  I  mounted  my  chariot  to  go  the 
citizens  flocked  after  me,  and  every  face  was 
pale. 

"  I  came  to  Isca  Bo  Nemeth,  going  swiftly 
through  the  sacred  groves  and  along  the  shining 
water.  I  came  to  the  door  of  the  dun,  and 
cried,  '  Arise,  sons  of  Concobar,  and  haste  with 
your  battalion  to  Southern  Cooalney,  for  the 
Four  Provinces  are  invading  Ulla,  and  Cuculain 
alone  defends  the  frontier. 

"  Concobar's  sons  sat  erect  at  the  council- 
chamber  and  they  moved  not  at  all,  ringed  round 
by  a  silent  cohort ;  but  six  strong  warriors 
advanced  without  word  spoken,  and  seized  me 
and  bore  me  without  the  Dun  and  beyond 
the  rampart,  and  cast  me  forth,  as  when  from 
their  house  of  industry  bees  hale  forth  some 


70  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

worthless  drone,  .and  cast  him  beyond  the 
precincts  and  it  is  death  to  him  if  he  should 
return.  So  cast  they  me  forth  among  the  tribute 
paying  people  who  gathered,  pale-faced  and 
amazed,  around  the  dun. 

"  I  came  to  the  Dun  of  Laegairey,  the  vic- 
torious son  of  Iliach,  far-seen,  resplendent  amid 
its  trees,   and  all  around  the  deep  foss  were 
chariots  and  horses  and  horsemen  and  many 
warriors,  for  there  was  a  great  hosting  of  the 
kings  and  the  Warlike  tribes  of  his  territory. 
But  within,  at  the  end  of  the  great  hall,  stood 
Laegairey,  erect  as  a  tall  poplar  that  grows  alone 
upon  the  wet  inches  of  the  river.     So  standing 
he  harangued  his  captains  and  said,  '  For  now 
that  the  great  son  of  Nessa  hath  fallen,  I,  the 
chief  of  the  Red  Branch  by  tanistry,  must  hence 
without  delay  to  Emain  Macha  to  assume  the 
Ard-Rieship  of  the  province,  the  royal  brooch 
and  silvern  wand  of  rule.     Yet  surely,  though 
slain,   his  projects  shall  not   fail   through  us. 
Concobar  has  fallen,  but  Macha,  the  red-maned, 
daughter  of  Aod  Roe,  is  still  amongst  us.     Her 
high  place  at  Emania  hath  she  not  deserted. 
Not  in  vain  hast  thou  cast  thy  thoughts,   O 
Concobar,   like  lightning  into  the  children  of 
Rury,  great  son  of  Nessa,  second  founder  of  our 


THE  AFFLICTION   OF  THE  TIED  BRANCH  71 

race,  binder  together  of  scattered  clans,  expulsor 
of  Fergus  and  his  crew/ 

"  As  he  noised  along  in  this  fashion,  I,  fearing 
he  would  never  make  an  end,  for  his  eyes  blazed 
like  fire  beneath  his  white  brows,  and  much  he 
gesticulated,  shaking  about  neck  and  broad 
shoulders  his  fleece  of  black  hair,  I  rushed  into 
the  rr  :dst  of  the  assembly,  crying  out  that  the 
Four  Provinces  were  invading  Ulla,  and  thou 
alone  defending  the  frontiers.  He  paused  a 
moment  and  bade  them  remove  me  ;  but  when 
his  men  would  have  laid  hands  on  me,  a  poet 
who  was  present  said,  '  Deal  tenderly  with  him  ; 
it  is  the  father  of  Cuculain.'  At  the  word  the 
whole  assembly  was  silent,  and  the  king  dropped 
his  spears  and  came  forward  humbly,  and  took 
me  by  the  hand  and  said,  '  Forgive  me,  O 
Sualtam,  for  I  knew  not  who  it  was.  Verily 
ere  this  have  I  grieved,  hearing  of  thy  affliction. 
Our  own  minds,  too,  the  Shee  may  one  day 
trouble  and  impair.'  Then  led  he  me  to  the 
best  chamber,  and  gave  me  keeves  of  water,  and 
his  people  attended  to  the  steeds  and  washed 
the  chariot,  and  I  feasted  with  them  that  night, 
held  in  great  honour  amongst  them  all,  listening 
to  the  silly  speech  of  Laegairey  and  his  cap- 
tains. 


72         IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

"  Every  day  they  said  they  would  go  to 
Emain  Macha  and  every  day  found  them  in  their 
dun. 

"  After  that  I  came  on  to  the  small  dun  of 
Iliach,  remote  from  the  great  road,  and  a  green 
lane  led  thither.  The  land  around  his  dun  was 
green  and  fertile,  though  in  the  midst  of  a  wild 
moor,  and  as  I  approached,  the  air  was  filled 
with  sweet  smells,  for  there  were  many  blossom- 
ing fruit-trees  there,  and  trim  hedges  and 
well-cared-for  cattle  feeding.  In  the  door  of 
the  dun  sat  an  aged  woman  grinding  with  one 
of  the  new  mills  brought  from  over-seas,  for  in 
the  upper  mill-stone  was  set  an  upright  handle, 
with  which  she  turned  round  the  stone  easily, 
and  always  the  yellow  flour  spurted  forth  from 
a  hole  in  the  side  upon  a  clean,  white  flaxen 
cloth  spread  upon  the  ground.  When  I  inquired 
for  Iliach,  she  led  me  through  a  fragrant  nut- 
grove  to  where  was  an  open  space,  and  there 
I  saw  him,  the  mightiest  of  the  great  Rury's . 
warriors,  a  stained  and  rent  bratta  around  him 
fastened  with  a  rusty  brooch,  and  he  himself 
kneeling  down  before  a  hive,  was  fixing  an 
addition  to  the  lower  part  of  the  hive,  and  the 
slant  beams  of  the  descending  sun  smote  upon 
him  between  the  well-pruned  trees.  He  received 


THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  RED  BRANCH      73 

me  joyfully,  for  we  had  been  comrades  in  the 
wars  of  Rury,  though  he  was  my  elder,  and  he 
led  me  straightway  to  the  house.  When  I  told 
him  of  all  that  incredible  folly  of  the  Red  Branch 
and  how  thou  here  on  the  borders  of  the  Pro- 
vinces contendedst  alone  against  the  Four 
Provinces,  then  though  the  day  was  far  gone, 
was  he  filled  with  wrath  and  zeal  for  thy  sake, 
and  he  ran  to  the  fields  and  brought  in  his  two 
horses,  their  necks  now  for  a  long  time  disused 
to  the  yoke,  and  drew  forth  the  creaking  chariot, 
and  the  aged  woman  brought  forth  his  battle  - 
dress,  and  arrayed  him  in  it,  but  it  was  far  too 
big  for  his  shrunken  frame.  With  ropes  and 
thongs  I  helped  him  to  cobble  the  chariot  and 
the  harness,  for  both  were  rotten  with  age,  and 
his  shield,  long  the  house  of  spiders,  was  eaten 
through  in  places  with  rust,  and  the  spear-heads 
rattled  upon  the  extremities  of  the  spear  trees. 
Nevertheless,  as  the  work  went  on,  his  form 
seemed  to  grow,  and  his  voice  and  countenance 
became  more  noble.  I  left  him  there  raging 
around  his  chariot,  and  urged  my  steeds  to  the 
north  and  east.  I  think  that  Iliach  will  soon  be 
here.  Nevertheless,  the  way  is  long  and  his 
steeds  lazy  with  age  and  fat,  and  he  alone  of 
the  Red  Branch  cometh  to  help  thee."  Then 


74          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

Cuculain  groaned  and  shed  tears,  gazing  into  the 
red  embers  of  the  fire,  and  in  the  silence  they 
heard  the  hum  and  murmur  of  Heave's  mighty 
host,  and  the  drowsy  twitter  of  Cuculain's  black- 
birds where  they  slept  upon  their  branch. 

"  After  that  I  came  through  young  plan- 
tations to  the  noble  dun  of  Kethern.  It  was 
night,  and  the  bridge  up.  Therefore,  I  beat 
upon  the  gong  and  shouted,  and  in  their  kennels 
the  wolf-hounds  answered  me,  five  baying  ter- 
ribly. There  came  down  women  and  slaves 
from  the  dun  and  lowered  the  drawbridge  on  the 
creaking  hinges.  The  man's  wife,  londan,  laid 
her  finger  upon  her  lips  signifying  silence,  and 
led  me  into  the  dun.  There  upon  couches  lay 
all  the  fierce  warriors  of  Kethern  in  an  evil 
slumber  and  stupefaction,  and  amongst  them 
Kethern  himself,  his  face  hollow  and  wan, 
and  his  grey  eyes,  full  of  trouble,  rolled 
round  like  an  animal's,  and  upon  his  lips  and 
jaws  was  sprouting  the  red  stubble.  Amid 
silence  and  tears  the  discreet  queen  prepared 
food  for  me,  and  a  couch,  and  I  told  her  where- 
fore I  had  come.  I  rested  there  that  night,  and 
departed  in  the  morning. 

I  came  to  Dun  Kermnab  where  was  Folloman, 
son  of  Concobar,  with  his  battalion,  and  the  sun 


THE   AFFLICTION   OF  THE  RED   BRANCH  75 

had  not  yet  risen.     Nevertheless  below  me  on 
the  sand  I  beheld  the  king's  son,  tall  and  straight, 
tracing,  with  his  spear,  lines  upon  the  sea-sand, 
and  his  war-galleys  were  afloat,  crowded  with 
armed  men  and  rowers,  suspended  in  the  washing 
brine,  and  other  warriors  stood  armed  upon  the 
shore,  awaiting  some  signal,  which  never  came. 
Thus  were  they  also  like  those  I  had  beheld 
enchanted  at  Isca-Bo-Nemeth.     There  no  man 
regarded    me,    but  eyed  me  sternly    when    I 
spake. 

"  After  that  I  got  me  a  fisherman's  boat  and 
rowed  across  the  frith  to  the  isle  of  Rathlin. 
But  far  away  I  heard  the  wailing  of  the  son  of 
Leda,  and  a  smoke  went  up  from  where  stood  his 
pleasant  dun,  and  the  white  streams  that  we 
have  seen  glittering  down  the  slopes  of  the 
mountain  around  it. 

"  I  came  to  the  dun  of  the  Stammerer,  the  un- 
quenchable, ever-blazing  flame  of  the  valour  and 
chivalry  of  the  Ultonians,  Cumascra  Mend  Macha. 
With  drawn  sword  he  stood,  as  one  on  guard 
against  an  enemy,  and  with  eyes  intent  and 
vigilant  under  fixed  brows.  He  seemed  to  fill 
the  whole  dun. 

"  '  What  ails  thee,  O  Stammerer  ?  '  I  cried, 
'  Thy  mind  is  disordered  and  thy  understanding 


76          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

gone  from  thee,  so  that  thou  hast  become  the 
sport  of  phantoms.' 

'  Cron-Cu  assails  me,'  he  cried.  '  By  day 
and  by  night  I  keep  watch  and  ward  against 
him.  It  was  I  who  held  him  down  while  the 
woman  ran  ;  with  these  hands  I  forced  red  tor- 
rents out  of  his  mouth.' 

"  '  My  son  upon  the  marches  holds  back  the 
Four  Provinces/  I  shouted,  but  he  answered  not 
again. 

"  He  kept  watch  and  ward  against  the  phan- 
toms. I  came  to  Cooalney  meaning  to  rouse  thy 
own  people,  but  they  would  not  hearken,  or  if 
they  hearkened,  they  misunderstood  my  speech 
or,  if  any  understood,  he  was  unwilling  to  come." 

"  Was  any  message  or  word  sent  to  me  from 
home  ?  "  cried  Cuculain. 

"There  was  not,"  replied  Sualtam. 

Cuculain  sprang  to  his  feet  and  bowed  himself 
down  to  the  earth,  trembling,  and  again  stood 
erect,  still,  but  breathing  hard.  His  eyes  glit- 
tered strangely,  and  in  either  white  cheeks  was 
a  deep  hollow,  but  on  his  jaws  the  muscles  stood 
out  like  ropes  of  steel. 

So  he  stood  for  a  space  without  a  word  and 
then  sat  down.  Sualtam,  too,  was  for  a  while 
silent,  then  resumed  and  ended  his  speech. 


THE  AFFLICTION  OF  THE  BED  BRANCH       77 

"  And  now,  dear  Setanta,  having  done  all  that 
thou  desiredst  I  have  come  back  to  thee,  and  I 
will  stay  with  thee  and  fight  by  thy  side,  seeing 
that  all  men  have  forsaken  thee." 

Sualtam  lay  down  to  sleep  wearied  and 
travel-worn,  but  Cuculain  slept  not.  He  sat 
gazing  into  the  fire,  but  as  the  hours  went  past 
his  countenance  grew  more  and  more  stern, 
for  a  courage  that  was  like  despair  hour  by  hour 
continued  to  harden  the  sinews  of  his  deep 
heart. 

In  the  morning  he  sent  his  father  again  to 
Emain  Macha.  Unwillingly  Sualtam  left  his 
son  and  drove  his  horses  again  into  the  North. 


CHAPTER  IX 

MEAVE  AND  HER  COMPANIONS 

Now,  the  same  night  the  whole  host  of  Queen 
Meave  was  troubled,  and,  in  the  Royal  Pavilion, 
the  kings  of  the  Four  Provinces  sat  silent,  and  an 
evil  thought  festered  in  their  hearts,  and  each 
man  desired  that  another  should  be  first  to  speak 
it  openly.  Then  for  them  so  sitting  arose  Bras 
Mac  Firb,  the  strong  lord  of  Osree,  and  with 
stubborn  brows  he  harangued  them,  and  said  : 

"  O  Queen  of  the  Olnemacta,  and  ye  kings  of 
the  children  of  Milith,  how  long  shall  we  sit 
here  idle,  and  delay  to  waste  the  rich  plains  of 
Ulla  before  the  hosting  of  the  Red  Branch,  and 
make  for  ourselves  the  dribbling  stream  of  the 
Avon  Dia  a  barrier  stronger  than  a  rampart 
of  brass  ?  Surely  the  fairy  princes,  the  powerful 
children  of  Dana,  have  conspired  to  grant  us  the 
destruction  of  the  Clanna  Rury,  who  have  re- 
laxed the  minds  of  Concobar  and  his  knights, 
seeing  that  now  for  many  days  they  haste  not 

78 


MEAVE   AND   HER  COMPANIONS.  79 

to  the  assistance  of  the  Hound.  Yet  ever  the 
sun  sets  on  our  mighty  host  sitting  here  as  though 
enchanted,  bound  in  the  toils  of  a  foolish  com- 
pact. Not  for  this  have  we  come  together,  the 
far-summoned  tribes  of  Eire,  to  be  bound  here 
with  fetters  of  air,  so  that  Cuculain  may  bar 
the  progress  of  the  Four  Provinces,  setting  before 
us  that  silly  compact,  as  in  a  narrow  way  the 
herdsman  stops  his  cattle,  putting  a  tree  across 
the  path  from  fence  to  fence.  Not  thus,  I  think, 
will  the  warriors  of  Eire  be  restrained  here  on  the 
borders  of  Ulla,  when  we  have  come  to  trample 
and  extinguish  the  fatal  flame  that  threatens 
to  devour  us  all.  For  surely  if  in  this  hosting 
we  break  not  the  power  of  the  Red  Branch, 
quickly  will  the  yoke  of  Concobar  Mac  Nessa 
be  upon  the  necks  of  the  kings  of  Eire.  Not 
here,  indeed,  are  the  borders  of  Crave  Rue,  they 
cease  not  but  with  the  sea  that  encircles  Banba. 
From  Emain  Macha,  the  strong  bole  of  the  Red 
Branch,  run  roots  diverse,  innumerable,  ceasing 
not  but  with  every  shore,  whence  will  start  forth 
groves  of  Irian  spears,  even  mutinous  warriors 
who  love  the  Red  Branch.  Well  ye  know  that 
the  bards  of  Eire  are  not  our  friends,  but  his,  for 
the  son  of  Nessa  hath  bewitched  them.  With 
gifts  and  flattery  and  attentive  ears  doth  he 


80          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

ever  receive  them  coming.     The  historians  and 
makers  of  tales  and  every  slanderous  and  sharp- 
tongued  satirist  finds  a  welcome  at  Emain  Macha, 
and  the  more  we  curtail  their  privileges,  and  crop 
their  sprouting  pride  and  domination,  the  more 
are  they  honoured   and   advanced  in  dignity 
among    the    Red    Branch.     Therefore,    like   a 
ground    through    which    rabbits    have    widely 
burrowed,  where,  the  wheel  sinking,  the  chariot 
is  overset,  and  those  within  it  are  rolled  forth 
upon  the  plain,  so  is  the  soil  of  Eire  beneath  the 
feet  of  her  kings  undermined  by  the    strolling 
vermin,  for  in  every  territory  they  came,  chant- 
ing the  greatness  of  the  Red  Branch.     Therefore, 
at  the  first  descent  of  the  children  of  Rury,  will 
there  be  vast  anarchy  and  rebellion,  and  many 
a  smooth-faced  chieftain  will  show  a  mutinous 
front  when  the  Red  Hand  of  the  Ultonians  is 
apparent.     Shall  we  then  sit  here  idle  and  miss 
an  opportunity  of  gold,  sending  daily  our  bravest 
to  be  slaughtered  by  that  youth  whom  Macha 
hath  made  invincible  ?     Shall  airy  words  bind 
us  here  as  if  with  fetters  of  brass  ?     Better  far 
that  we  break  this  convention  which  ourselves 
have  made,  than  that  the  Red  Branch  break 
us,  and  the  tributes  and  hostages  of  all  Erin  go 
to  Emain  Macha." 


MEAVE   AND  HER  COMPANIONS  8l 

So  spake  the  strong  King  of  the  Osree,  and  the 
assembly  murmured  doubtful  approbation  ;  but 
Queen  Meave  looked  sidelong  at  Fergus  where 
he  sat  on  the  left  hand  of  Aileel. 

Then,  ere  the  murmur  had  ceased,  up  rose 
Fergus  Mac  Roy,  and  fear  and  strength  rose  with 
him — bending  fierce  brows  upon  the  assembly  ; 
his  dense  hair  shook  around  his  neck  and  broad 
shoulders  and  like  near  thunder  was  his  voice. 

"  King  do  they  call  thee — High  King  of  the 
Osree,  O  Bras  Mac  Firb  ? — King  rather  of  some 
base  Firbolgic  clan,  a  tribute-paying  people, 
scorn  of  the  warrior  tribes  of  Erin.  Even  so  do 
the  fudirs  of  Fohla  make  a  promise  and  straight- 
way break  it,  for  fear  has  made  them  vile. 
Hateful  to  me  is  the  treaty-breaker,  more  loath- 
some than  the  night-stalking  ghoul.  Fear,  I 
see,  hath  eaten  away  thy  manly  heart  that  thou 
dreadst  the  bard-loving  captain  of  the  Red 
Branch,  and  the  crooning  of  the  bearded  poet, 
which  the  brave  man  no  more  regards  than  the 
idle  rail  that  crakes  at  sunset  in  the  meadow. 
Verily,  if  the  warriors  of  Meave  were  no  more 
magnanimous  than  thou  quickly  would  I  cross 
the  sea  to  Gaul,  like  Lara  of  Din  Rie,  fleeing 
from  the  presence  of  the  vile,  or  into  Espana, 

whence  came  forth  the  heroic  sons  of  the  Milith  : 

c 


82          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

I  would  flee  from  Fohla  as  from  a  land  accurst. 
But  well  I  know  that  the  noble  kings  of  Eire 
thou  wilt  not  persuade  to  break  faith  with 
Cuculain ;  and  this  I  say,  and  by  the  great 
Dagda  I  swear  it,  which  man  soever  of  the  host 
of  Meave,  I  care  not  who,  shall  cross  the 
Avon  Dia  invading  the  land  of  Ulla,  until  Cucu- 
lain be  subdued,  according  to  the  compact, 
quickly  shall  this  spear  drink  his  blood,  and  the 
wolves  and  grey-necked  crows  shall  eat  his  body, 
unburned  and  unburied." 

So  spake  Fergus,  and  sat  down  in  his  place 
raging  ;  but  the  kings  feared  and  were  ashamed, 
and  Bras  Mac  Firb  retreated  into  the  crowd  of 
the  kings  scared  and  dazed,  as  when  a  young 
girl,  expecting  indeed  rain,  nevertheless  steps 
briskly  out  of  the  house,  but  hardly  has  she 
passed  the  threshold  when  the  white  lightning 
strikes  her  blind,  and  the  thunder  crashes  around 
her  ears,  and  in  haste  she  runs  back  into  her 
wattled  house.  So  shrunk  in  among  the  kings 
the  haughty  Lord  of  the  Osree  before  the  great 
wrath  of  Fergus. 

Then  arose  Fionmael,  King  of  the  Dairtheena, 
and  said,  "  O  Meave,  Ard-Rian  of  the  Olnemacta, 
and  ye  kings  of  Erin,  no  home-nurtured  warrior 
can  contend  with  Cuculain,  so  quick  and  dex- 


MEAYE   AND   HER   COMPANIONS.  83 

terous  is  he  in  the  management  of  his  weapons, 
no  swordsman  or  spear-thrower  of  Fohla  hath 
taught  him  the  art  of  the  duello.  My  counsel 
is,  that  we  choose  out  one  of  the  two  warriors 
who  along  with  him  have  learned  feats  of  arms 
at  the  hands  of  Skya,  the  warrior-queen,  who, 
with  her  martial  daughters,  rules  strongly  the 
ragged  isle  in  the  northern  seas,  teaching  only 
select  champions  of  the  men  of  Erin  and  Alba. 
Now  these  with  us  are  Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  chief 
of  Clan  Falva,  and  Fardia,  son  of  Daman,  son 
of  Dary,  chief  of  the  western  Firbolgs,  not 
honoured  indeed  by  the  Milesian  kings,  but  to 
my  mind  the  foremost  warrior  in  all  Erin.  One 
of  these,  therefore,  shall  we  select,  who  will  slay 
for  us  the  Hound  of  Ulla,  and  remove  this 
intolerable  obstruction." 

Then  arose  Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  and  said  : 

"  Another  champion  than  me  shall  ye  select 
to  go  out  against  Cuculain.  That  dear  friend 
my  spear  shall  never  pierce,  nor  shall  his  pierce 
me." 

Then  was  Meave  enraged,  and  from  her  throne, 
not  moving,  she  harangued  : 

"  Shall  then  this  great  host  sit  here  idle  day 
after  day,  bound  in  the  toils  of  a  most  pernicious 
compact,  into  which  we  were  driven  by  certain 


84          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

persons,  more  friends  to  Cuculain  than  to  the 
Four  Provinces,  and  now  our  warriors  must 
shun  the  brunt  of  his  brazen  spear,  putting  for- 
ward forsooth  some  pretext  of  ancient  friendship, 
but  in  their  hearts  restrained  by  fear.  Small 
love  has  Cuculain  for  thee,  I  verily  believe  ;  for, 
hearing  of  the  ancient  amity,  I  scanned  his  com- 
merce with  thee  narrowly  when  he  came  to  the 
camp,  and  more  did  he  avoid  thee  than  seek  after 
thee.  Not  much  would  he  think  of  driving  his 
spear  through  thy  very  faithful  breast." 

But  Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  bearing  himself  humbly, 
but  with  a  stubborn  heart,  made  answer  : 

"  I  fear  not  the  charge  of  cowardice,  though 
made  by  thee,  dread  Queen,  before  the  chiefs 
of  my  nation  and  the  far-coming  kings  of  Eire, 
nor  is  thy  judgment  right  concerning  Cuculain  ; 
I  will  not  go  out." 

Then  said  Meave,  paling  with  sudden  anger, 
"  Thy  kingship,  O  Lewy,  is  in  the  hands  of  Aileel 
and  myself.  If  thou  goest  not  out  against 
Cuculain  I  will  strip  thee  of  thy  sovereignty, 
and  expel  thee  out  of  my  realm." 

Harder  than  the  black  rock  over  which  the 
mad  wave  pours,  but  it  always  reappears,  and 
the  briny  streams  run  white  down  its  stubborn 
ribs,  the  son  of  Neesh  made  answer  : 


MEAVE   AND  HER   COMPANIONS.  85 

"  The  sovereignty  which  thou  gavest  me  thou 
mayest  again  take  away,  and  across  the  Shannon 
or  beyond  the  sea-swept  borders  of  Eire,  thou 
mayest  expel  me.  All  this  thou  mayest  do, 
nor  is  my  life  safe  against  thee,  though  by  birth 
of  the  noblest  tribes  of  Heremon,  the  great  son 
of  Milesius,  but  against  Cuculain,  the  son  of 
Sualtam,  I  will  not  lift  up  my  spear." 

Then  Meave,  subtle-minded,  unweariable, 
laughed  lightly,  and  as  the  sun  emerging  from  a 
black  cloud  pours  forth  its  light,  causing  the 
rain-drops  lately  fallen  upon  the  grass  and  the 
trees  to  glisten  like  pearls,  so  she  smiled  upon 
Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  and  said  : 

'  Thy  sovereignty,  O  son  of  Neesh,  I  will  by 
no  means  take  away,  nor, would  I  do  myself  and 
the  nation  of  the  Olnemacta  an  injury  so  great, 
for  well  I  know  thy  wise  government  of  thy 
territory,  both  in  all  that  relates  to  the  provident 
rule  of  the  tribute-paying  people,  which  greatly 
I  value,  for  these  are  the  soil  whence  the  noble 
tribes  with  their  spreading  branches  draw  sap 
and  sustenance,  and  also  in  the  splendour  and 
efficiency  of  the  rising-out  of  thy  territory,  not 
to  speak  of  the  moderation  and  loyalty  of  thy 
bards,  the  rectitude  of  thy  brehons,  and  the  skill 
of  thy  musicians.  But  tlu's  I  said,  trying  thce, 


86          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

to  the  end  that  thou  mightest  throw  off  this 
old  boyish  tie,  and  slay  for  us  the  prime  enemy, 
working  deliverance  for  the  Four  Provinces. 
For  truly,  as  said  the  Lord  of  the  Osree,  I  fear 
the  subjugation  of  all  Erin  at  the  hands  of  the 
Red  Branch,  if  we  break  not  their  power  in  this 
hosting.  But  upon  me,  especially,  will  fall  great 
shame  and  dishonour  if  I  lead  back  my  army 
ineffectual  though  attended  by  the  rising-out 
of  the  four  great  provinces  of  Erin,  Meath  and 
Lahan,  Mooan  and  the  Olnemacta.  For  never 
before  has  such  a  great  host  been  gathered 
together  in  this  island  ;  and  if  misfortune  awaits 
us,  never  again  will  I  show  my  face  in  a  gathering 
of  the  kings,  never  go  out  with  my  warriors, 
or  enjoy  my  sovereignty  any  more  ;  and  at 
night  my  bed  is  wet  with  my  tears,  for  I  see  no 
escape  from  the  cloud  of  dishonour  preparing 
to  burst  upon  my  head.  But  upon  thee  I  counted 
as  a  sure  refuge  whenever  disaster  should 
threaten  to  swallow  me  up,  as  now,  for  both  thy 
father  and  thy  father's  father  were  my  dear 
friends,  and  I  honoured  them  above  all  the  far- 
coming  kings  when  the  eve  of  Samhane  brought 
to  Tara  the  chiefs  of  all  Eire.  And  thee  thyself 
I  have  watched,  as  a  king  who  in  his  youth 
plants  a  tree  beside  his  father's  dun,  and  hopes 


MKAVE    AND    HER    COMPANIONS  87 

one  day  to  see  it  an  ornament  to  his  palace,  and 
a  protection  against  wintry  blasts,  and  yearly 
marks  how  it  stretches  out  strong  arms,  and 
knows  that  its  roots  are  firm  and  deep  in  the 
nourishing  earth.  Thus  have  I  watched  thee  grow 
into  the  mighty  champion  that  thou  art,  an  orna- 
ment and  a  bulwark  of  my  realm,  for  all  thy 
poems  and  music,  the  bravest  and  most  agile 
warrior  of  the  clans  of  Aileel,  and  a  pillar  of  our 
sovereignty  from  the  Shannon  to  the  great  sea 
westward.  Come  now,  O  Lewy,  slay  me  this 
northern  hound,  whose  claws  have  already  torn 
so  many  of  thy  comrades  in  arms,  and  release 
me,  your  Queen,  from  this  pit  of  ignominy  into 
which  I  fall,  and  Fionavar  I  will  betroth  to  thee 
with  a  great  dowry  ;  yea,  and  make  thee  regent 
of  Ulla,  when  we  have  driven  out  or  slain  the 
spreading  tyrant  that  rules  from  Emain  Macha. 
Great  then  shall  be  thy  renown  over  Erin,  and 
Alba,  across  the  Muirnict  also,  in  Gaul  and  Espan 
and  wheresoever  dwell,  or  shall  hereafter  be 
found,  the  great  race  of  the  Gael.  Verily  not 
far  from  thee  shall  be  the  Ard-Rieship  of  Erin, 
as  King  of  all  Ulla,  and  my  son-in-law,  and  thy 
own  birth,  too,  not  ignoble." 

But  as  she  spake  the  great  Queen  beckoned 
him  to  herself,  and  she  took  his  right  hand  in 


88         IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

hers,  and  placed  her  left  upon  his  strong  wrist ; 
but  instead  of  the  cath-barr  a  royal  Ard-roth 
of  slender  gold  encircled  her  pure  white  forehead 
and  dense  and  shining  hair.  On  her  noble 
breast,  beneath  the  white  neck,  she  wore  a  fibula 
of  gold,  confining  the  robe  of  crimson  silk,  along 
whose  collar  and  the  partings  in  front  ran  a 
spiral  embroidery  of  silver  thread,  and  in  her 
eye  gathered  the  glistening  tear  as  she  looked 
into  the  face  of  Lewy  Mac  Neesh.  But  at  the 
other  side  of  Meave  sat  Fergus  Mac  Roy,  grim 
and  silent. 

Then,  in  spite  of  shame,  tears  sprang  in  the 
eyes  of  Lewy  Mac  Neesh,  and  he  answered 
brokenly,  while  with  difficulty  he  suppressed 
the  climbing  grief :  "  O  my  Queen,  demand 
aught  else  that  is  in  thy  power  to  ask,  or  in  mine 
to  grant,  but  against  Cuculain,  who  has  my 
heart's  love,  demand  not  that  I  lift  up  my 
spear.  Sooner  against  myself  would  I  draw  the 
hard  sword  and  spill  my  own  life." 


CHAPTER  X 

DEATH  OF  FIREBA  LARNA 

BUT  Queen  Meave,  resolute  in  her  mind  as  a 
merchant  who,  sailing  from  Ictian  Port  or  Tor 
Brogan  of  Espana,  with  purpose  to  vend  his 
wares,  wine,  or  silks,  or  variegated  beautiful 
armour  and  trinkets,  at  the  great  fair  of  Cahir- 
man,  though  oft  beat  back  by  storms,  and  though 
oppressed  at  once  with  broken  oars  and  mutinous 
mariners,  nevertheless  stems  northward  with 
fixed  heart,  so  the  great  Queen  steeled  herself 
to  the  thought  that  by  the  hands  of  Lewy 
Mac  Neesh  should  be  slain  the  champion  of 
Ulla — tenacious  and  unwearable  as  the  weasel 
that  through  many  fields  and  through  the  deep 
earth  pursues  always  the  same  quarry,  till  she 
overtakes  it,  and  shrill  screams  pierce  the  tender 
heart  of  evening.  To  her,  so  plotting,  this 
stratagem  seemed  best. 


go          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NOETH 

There  was  in  the  camp  a  young  chieftain  whose 
bright  dun  stood  where  the  Avan  Lua  broadens 
into  lakes,  below  that  deep  glen  where  the  saint, 
Fionabarra,  retiring,  built  his  cell  on  a  green 
island  in  the  gloomy  mere,  and  a  narrow  cause- 
way connects  it  with  the  land.  From  this 
source  springing,  the  Lua  foams  along  between 
ragged  rocks  till  it  reaches  the  lowlands,  where 
it  broadens  into  lakes.  Thence  came  Fireba 
Larna.  Ere  this  his  daily  pastime  had  been  to 
snare  trout  in  the  Lua,  setting  lines  and  damming 
the  tributaries,  or  in  shooting  arrows  from  his 
red  yew  bow.  Rapid  and  very  straight  was  his 
cunning  archery.  Moreover,  he  was  exceedingly 
skilful  to  play  on  the  tiompan  and  to  sing  many 
and  bright  songs  which  himself  had  made, 
and  he  brought  laughter  and  lightness  of  heart 
into  any  company  that  he  entered,  for  very 
frolicksome  and  gay  was  Fireba  Larna.  Now 
between  him  and  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  there  was  a 
bond  of  bardic  brotherhood,  for  many  a  cunningly 
woven  rann  with  rhymes  and  alliterations,  and 
the  subtle  charm  of  assonance  had  they  put 
together,  and  joined  to  a  fitting  music,  and  Lewy 
Mac  Neesh  was  bound  by  his  gaesa  to  avenge 
the  death  of  his  friend,  and  this  the  great  Queen 
knew. 


DEATH   OF  FIREBA  LARKA  gi 

Him,  then,  the  Queen  summoned  to  her 
pavilion,  but  in  her  presence  his  laughter  and 
gay  speech  forsook  him,  and  he  spoke  brokenly. 
She  set  him  on  a  couch  by  her  side,  and  caressed 
and  flattered  him,  and  she  told  how  she  had  come 
to  the  edge  of  a  huge  disaster  through  the  great 
prowess  of  Cuculain,  for  that  on  account  of  him 
the  narrow  stream  of  the  Dia  was  like  a  lofty 
rampart  enclosing  the  lands  of  Ulla,  and  much 
she  spake  of  Fireba's  skill  in  archery,  and  she 
promised  him  her  youngest  daughter,  Fionavar, 
in  marriage,  with  a  great  dowry,  and  the  chief, 
tainship  of  a  wide  territory  on  the  west  of  Loch 
Oribsen,  should  he  pierce  the  strong  heart  of 
Cuculain  with  one  of  his  arrows. 

Fireba  Lama  answered  that  on  the  morrow  he 
would  meet  Cuculain.  Then  he  left  the  royal 
pavilion,  and  rejoined  his  comrades,  stalking 
proudly,  and  he  spake  little,  but  loftily,  though 
before  very  garrulous.  They  sought  to  divert 
him  from  the  combat,  but  in  vain,  and  there  was 
great  wrath  against  the  High  Queen.  After 
that  he  went  to  sup  with  Queen  Meave  ;  and  now, 
for  the  wine  had  made  a  glad  riot  in  his  veins, 
and  Fionavar  was  there  sitting  beside  her 
mother,  he  boasted  of  his  skill,  and  said  that  no 
tliicker  would  be  the  fall  of  snow  driven  by  a 


Q2          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

strong  south  wind  than  would  be  the  flight  of 
his  feathered  arrows  against  Cuculain.  "  Not 
easily,  I  think,"  said  Fireba,  "  will  he  escape 
that  deadly  shower,  and  I  am  meditating  whether 
I  shall  smite  him  to  the  heart  through  his  shield 
and  breast,  or  whether  I  shall  pierce  his  forehead 
between  the  bright  eyes."  Fionavar  sat  grave 
and  tender  beside  her  mother,  and  spake  not  at 
all,  nor  looked  at  him,  though  she  heard  all  his 
words. 

When  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  was  aware  of  the  plot 
that  had  been  laid  against  him,  he  called  Angus 
Lamderg,  his  faithful  friend  and  attendant,  and 
one  who  was  prepared  to  give  his  life  for  the 
prince  of  Cliu  Mael.  For  when  Lamderg  was  yet 
a  stripling,  he  had  gone  to  the  great  fair  at 
Cahirman,  hoping  to  win  renown  there  as  a  poet, 
and  he  brought  thither,  inscribed  on  tablets  of 
the  pear  tree,  a  poem  on  the  slaying  of  Eterskel 
by  Nuada  Nect.  There,  in  a  great  booth,  hard 
by  the  Ossorian  chariot  course,  he  recited  his 
poem  before  many  of  the  young  nobles  who  were 
his  coevals.  Now  of  these  one  ridiculed  his 
poetic  pretensions,  exciting  much  laughter 
amongst  the  youths.  But,  sitting  awhile  silent, 
Angus  Lamderg  ran  suddenly  upon  him  and 
stabbed  him  with  his  colg  in  the  neck,  for  pride 


DEATH   OF  FIREBA   LAENA  93 

and  folly  had  taken  away  his  wind,  and  the  young 
man  fell,  and  his  life-blood  poured  forth  upon 
the  rush-strewn  floor.  Then  the  princes  seized 
and  bound  Lamderg,  and  were  for  leading  him 
before  the  king,  to  whom,  at  that  time,  was  the 
regulation  of  the  fair.  But  certain  amongst 
them  pleaded  hard  for  him  on  account  of  his 
youth  and  his  wild  contrition  ;  moreover,  the 
slain  man,  too,  was  not  loved,  for  he  was 
accustomed  to  be  overbearing  in  his  discourse. 
No  eric  was  permitted  to  be  accepted  for  any 
deed  of  violence  done  at  that  fair,  but  the  use  of 
a  weapon  was  punished  by  instant  death. 
Therefore,  it  was  resolved  that  he  should  be 
given  a  chance  to  save  his  life,  and  they  provided 
him  with  a  chariot  and  horses,  and  permitted 
him  to  pass  secretly  from  the  fair  before  word 
was  given  to  those  who  ordered  the  fair.  Then 
Angus,  who  was  thenceforward  called  Lamderg, 
went  away  westward,  swiftly,  flying  for  his  life, 
and  he  travelled  day  and  night,  for  he  hoped 
to  pass  into  the  country  of  the  Firbolgs,  north 
of  the  Shannon,  whither  extended  not  the 
authority  of  the  great  Fair.  But  he  was  over- 
taken by  the  avengers  hard  by  the  well-built 
cathair  of  Lewy  Mac  Neesh.  Lewy  was  return- 
ing from  the  chase  in  the  evening,  and  he  saw 


gj          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

one  flying  towards  his  palace  with  tired  horses 
that  stumbled  and  swerved  in  their  course,  and 
others  pursuing  with  fresh  steeds,  and  the 
fugitive  was  overtaken  on  the  lawn  of  the  dun, 
and  seized.  Lewy  went  to  them  with  his  people, 
and  when  he  heard  all,  he!  had  compassion  upon 
the  lad,  and  claimed  for  him  the  right  of  sanc- 
tuary. The  officers  denied  the  right,  saying 
he  was  taken  outside  the  limit,  and  there  was 
much  wrangling.  But  in  the  end  the  authority 
of  the  king  of  the  tuath  was  invoked,  and  before 
witnesses  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  took  in  his  hands  the 
canairsa'  by  casting  which  the  limits  of  the 
sanctuary  were  determined,  and  the  homicide 
stood  by  while  the  generous  youth  exerted 
himself  to  save  his  young  life.  Then  Lewy 
took  off  all  his  raiment,  except  the  lena,  and, 
standing  at  his  door,  took  the  hammer  in  his 
hands,  twelve  palms  was  its  length  from  the 
brass  to  the  haft-ferrule,  and,  wheeling,  cast 
it  far  beyond  the  foss,  upon  the  green  lawn, 
tearing  up  the  dark  sod  upon  the  dew-sprinkled 
glittering  grass,  for  it  was  early  morning,  and  he 
went  thither  and  cast  again,  and  went  on  until 
he  had  exhausted  the  throws  which  were  per- 
mitted him  by  the  law,  viz.,  sixteen  casts,  and 
hardly,  and  in  the  last  cast  did  he  enclose  the 


DEATH   OF  FIREBA  LARNA  95 

spot  at  which  Lamderg  had  been  overtaken  and 
seized. 

Then  Lewy  led  the  homicide  into  his  house, 
and  he  became  one  of  his  household,  and  faithful 
and  devoted  beyond  all  to  the  son  of  Neesh,  but 
thenceforward  he  did  not  bear  arms,  and  ceased 
wholly  to  practise  the  art  of  the  poets,  and  Lewy 
Mac  Neesh  rendered  to  the  King  of  Cahirman 
the  huge  fine  which  had  been  incurred  by  the 
fugitive. 

Him  then  he  called  as  he  entered  the  booth  ; 
but  Lamderg  ran  when  he  heard  his  voice,  for 
he  was  at  the  other  side  daubing  with  wind- 
excluding  clay  the  chinks  between  the  wattles, 
and  inside  he  had  suspended  rugs  all  round  the 
walls.  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  told  him  all  that  had 
taken  place,  and  desired  him  to  go  to  Cuculain 
and  enjoin  him  that  he  should  not  slay  Fireba 
Larna  on  the  morrow.  "  Come  now  with  me," 
said  he,  '"  to  the  house  of  Fergus  Mac  Roy, 
and  he  will  teach  thee  how  to  find  Cuculain/' 

Then  they  wrapped  round  them  their  brattas 
with  cowls  to  cover  the  head,  for  it  was  cold ; 
the  skies  too  were  dark,  and  the  wind  high,  and 
went  down  the  main  street  of  the  camp  past 
the  market-place,  and  past  the  royal  pavilion, 
where  Fireba  Larna  was  being  feasted  to  his 


96          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

destruction,  and  came  to  the  large  four-sided 
tent  of  Fergus  Mac  Roy.  Now  before  the 
entrance  on  the  right  side  there  was  a  tall  staff 
fixed,  bearing  the  banner  of  Fergus,  and  armed 
warriors  guarded  the  way.  From  within  the 
yellow  light  streamed  forth  both  through  the 
entrance  and  by  many  a  chink  in  the  rudely 
woven  walls,  and  there  was  a  sound  of  abundant 
festivity,  the  noise  of  manly  voices,  the  laughter 
of  young  men,  and  the  music  of  the  harp  and  the 
reed. 

When  Lewy  spake  to  the  guards  about  Fergus, 
they  said  that  he  was  in  the  tent  of  Cormac 
Conlingas,  his  fellow-exile.  Then  as  they  turned 
to  leave,  there  came  forth  the  sons  of  Fergus, 
Ciar  first,  and  after  him  Core  and  Conmac,  and 
also  Mainey  Matrimail,  son  of  Aileel  and  Meave, 
and  very  dear  to  his  mother,  whence  his  surname. 
They  came  out  with  a  clamorous  hospitality, 
that  they  might  bring  in  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  and 
his  charioteer  to  the  feast,  for  they  recognised 
the  voice  of  Lewy.  These  three  sons  of  Fergus 
were  very  noble  and  warlike  and  though  youthful 
and  exiles,  their  authority  was  great  over  the 
western  tribes,  for  they  inherited  their  father's 
unconquerable  soul. 

In  the  end  they  ruled  over  many  tribes,  and 


DEATH   OF  FIREBA  LABNA  97 

their  posterity  spread  and  multiplied,  so  that 
the  names  of  Ciar  and  Conmac  are  upon  wide 
territories  in  the  west  of  Erin  to  this  day. 

But  when  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  informed  them 
wherefore  he  had  come  they  desisted,  for  they 
themselves  loved  Cuculain. 

Then  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  and  Angus  Lamderg 
went  to  the  tent  of  Cormac  Conlingas.  It 
stood  round,  clean-built  and  lofty  by  itself,  and 
was  ever  the  handsomest  in  the  camp  of  Meave, 
When  they  went  in  they  found  Cormac  Conlin- 
gas and  Fergus  Mac  Roy  sitting  at  a  table 
drinking,  and  the  head  of  Fergus  stooped  be- 
tween his  hands.  Cormac  arose  and  received 
them  hospitably,  and  ordered  his  men  to 
bring  couches  and  drinking  cups,  and  to 
hang  their  spears  and  shields  upon  the  rack. 
In  the  middle  of  the  booth  there  burned  a  bright 
fire,  hard  by  the  roof- tree,  and  a  leathern  flue, 
ending  with  a  broad  and  bell-shaped  band  of 
brass,  received  the  smoke. 

Then  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  related  wherefore  they 
had  come,  and  Cormac  Conlingas  laughed,  and, 
having  a  lively  mind,  made  a  picture  in  words  of 
the  scene  enacted  between  the  Queen  and  Fireba 
Larna,  and  he  said  that  poets  were  dangerous 
associates,  and  that  they  had  made  his  father 

m 


98         IN  THE  GATES  OP  THE  NORTH 

mad,  and  told  how  he  had  seen  the  chief  Kerd 
of  the  Kerd-ree  repairing  the  Queen's  broken 
cath-barr.  Fergus  Mac  Roy  restrained  him 
as  he  jested  concerning  the  Queen.  Then  Fergus 
took  Lamderg  apart,  and  explained  to  him 
carefully  the  way  to  Cuculain's  dell  and  the 
partings  of  the  passages  in  the  labyrinth,  and 
Angus  wrapped  his  thick  bratta  around  him 
and  went  out  on  his  way  to  Cuculain. 

After  he  had  gone  Lewy  Mac  Neesh  said  to 
Cormac : — 

"  I  hear  a  sound  as  of  a  blacksmith's  iron 
hissing  in  the  trough,  and  I  know  that  it  is  the 
spear  of  Lu  Lam-fada,  which  thou  tookest  out 
of  the  Dun  of  Celtcar,  son  of  Uther,  in  the  great 
war  concerning  the  children  of  Usna.  But  if  it 
is  allowable  I  would  desire  very  much  to  see  it, 
for  many  times  have  I  heard  of  this  marvel, 
both  by  common  rumour  and  in  the  tales  of  the 
poets." 

Cormac  led  him  to  where  was  a  long-handled 
black  spear,  of  which  the  haft  was  fixed  in  a 
frame  against  the  wall,  while  the  head  was 
plunged  deep  in  an  urn  containing  a  liquid, 
dark,  save  where  the  bubbles  rose  to  the  surface. 
Therein  the  spear  shivered  and  writhed  like  a 
live  thing.  The  urn  was  rilled  with  the  juices 


DEATH   OF  FIREBA   LARNA  99 

of  lethean  and  soporific  herbs,  but  for  which  it 
would  of  its  own  accord  rush  against  men  flesh- 
devouring,  a  marvel  amongst  the  Gael,  for  a 
fell  principle  of  destruction  dwelt  within  it, 
an  emanation  of  the  war-demons.  Cormac 
took  it  from  the  frame,  and  its  head  out  of  the 
urn,  and  held  it  strongly  in  both  hands  holding 
it  before  him  like  a  fishing-rod,  and  the  spear 
writhed  and  strained  in  his  hands  like  a  serpent, 
and  struggled  fiercely  to  get  away,  as  a  kite 
strains  strongly  against  the  hands  of  him  who 
holds  the  cord.  Then  he  plunged  it  again  into 
the  urn,  and  made  the  haft  fast  in  the  frame,  and 
its  fury  was  allayed  ;  but  the  face  of  Lewy  Mac 
Neesh  was  distorted  with  fear,  and  he  sat  down 
at  the  table  trembling. 

In  the  meantime,  Angus  Lamderg  had  escaped 
the  scouts  and  sentinels  of  the  camp,  and  gone  up 
the  river  about  four  miles  till  he  came  to  where 
was  a  ford.  There  he  forded  the  river,  and 
descended  the  thither  bank  till  he  reached  the 
Ford  of  the  Combats,  after  which  he  struck 
north-westward  to  the  hills,  keeping  in  mind 
the  injunctions  of  Fergus  Mac  Roy  ;  the  wolves 
howled  round  him  in  the  forest  as  he  went. 
Then,  at  last,  he  came  to  the  dell  where  was 
Cuculain,  and  Cuculain  heard  him,  for  he  slept 


100  IN    THE   GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

not  at  all,  but  wept,  for  his  mind  was  troubled 
and  confused,  and  he  said  that  the  Red  Branch 
hated  him,  and  that  it  would  be  pleasing  to  them 
if  he  should  perish  at  the  hands  of  the  men  of 
the  Four  Provinces.  Then  he  arose,  and  stood 
at  the  entrance  of  the  bower  against  the  red  fire, 
and  Lamderg,  when  he  saw  him  there,  gaunt 
and  terrible,  and  heard  his  untuned  accents  of 
fierce  interrogation,  was  afraid,  and  stood  still, 
as  one  who  in  the  woods  meets  a  man  whose 
disordered  mind  impels  him  to  wild  places, 
where  he  strips  off  his  clothes  and  feeds  on  berries 
and  confronts  horribly  the  wayfarer.  So 
trembled  Angus  when  he  saw  Cuculain.  Then 
recovering  his  heart,  he  told  him  wherefore  he 
had  come,  and  Cuculain  answered  him  gently, 
and  led  him  in,  and  spread  a  rug  for  him  before 
the  fire,  and  cooked  for  him  a  portion  of  venison, 
and  gave  him  mead  to  drink,  and  inquired  much 
of  him  concerning  his  friends  who  where  in  the 
camp  of  Meave.  Also  he  faithfully  promised 
Angus  that  he  would  not  hurt  Fireba  Larna. 
Then  Angus  departed,  and  Cuculain  came  back, 
and  wrapped  his  rug  around  him,  and  lay  down 
beside  the  red  fire,  wolf-scaring. 

In  the  morning,  at  the  appointed  hour,  Fireba 
Larna  advanced  to  the  Ford,  stepping  lightly 


DEATH   OF  FiREBA   LARNA  101 

over  the  dew.  On  his  sloping  shoulders,  un- 
warlike,  hung  an  oblong  shield  bright  with  gold- 
leaf,  and  rivets  of  white  findruiney.  In  one 
hand  he  carried  two  spears,  and  in  the  other  his 
bow  of  red  yew,  inscribed  with  oghamic  verses, 
and  tipped  with  carved  walrus  tooth  which  he  had 
got  from  the  fishermen  of  Dunamarc.  THis  the 
ancient  kerd,  whose  house  was  beside  the  Avon 
Garf,  at  the  ford  of  the  Old  Chariot,  had  carved 
and  fitted  to  the  bow  ;  at  one  end,  the  likeness 
of  a  trout  with  open  mouth,  which  he  had  stained 
deftly,  and  dotted  with  crimson  spots,  and  at 
the  other,  of  a  swallow  with  partly  expanded 
wings,  and  the  forked  tail  ran  in  upon  the 
polished  wood.  When  he  came  to  the  ford  he 
dashed  the  spears  upon  the  ground,  and  the 
shield  with  its  strap,  and  stringing  his  bow, 
pluck  at  the  sweetly-sounding  string.  Then, 
fitting  to  it  an  arrow,  he  awaited  the  approach 
of  Cuculain,  nought-fearing. 

But  on  the  other  side  came  down  Cuculain, 
with  long  strides  through  the  stunted  willows, 
soiled  from  the  spring  floods,  and  to  which 
adhered  many  bands  of  dried  grass,  moving 
knee  after  white  knee.  His  eyes  were  on  the 
ground,  and  his  left  hand  held  the  shield  low, 
exposing  his  breast,  and  behind  he  trailed  the 


102  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

hafts  of  his  spears.  Then,  indeed,  had  Fireba 
Larna  obeyed  the  voice  of  Meave,  and  Bras  Mac 
Ferb  standing  near  him,  he  had  slain  the  Hound 
of  Ulla  ;  but  as  he  bent  to  aim,  he  shouted  a 
clear  cry  of  challenge.  As  when  one  travelling 
in  the  dawn  meets  on  lonely  roads  a  car  piled 
up  aloft  with  merchandise,  securely  fastened  with 
ropes  and  canvas,  but  on  the  top  lies  the  driver, 
outstretched  and  asleep,  overworn  with  much 
journeying ;  but  the  horse  unguided  draws  the 
car  awry  upon  the  road.  Him,  then,  the  other 
awakes  with  a  shout,  and  he,  starting  swiftly 
from  slumber,  snatches  at  the  reins.  So  cried 
Fireba  Larna,  and  so  started  Cuculain,  lifting 
rapidly  both  head  and  shield,  and  forthwith 
the  singing  arrow  stuck  fast  in  the  brass  plating 
and  tough  leather  of  the  light  shield,  nor  pene- 
trated to  the  hero's  breast.  Then  ran  Cuculain 
forward,  and  reached  the  stepping  stones, 
springing  with  long  strides  to  every  third  stone, 
but  for  every  stride  flew  an  arrow  from  the 
light  hands  of  Fireba  Larna,  and  regular  and 
unintermitted  as  is  the  sound  of  two  threshers 
advancing  and  receding  towards  and  from  one 
another  was  the  sound  of  Fireba's  arrows  as  they 
struck  the  shield  of  Cuculain,  and  stood  there 
thick  as  pins  in  the  pin-cushion  of  a  girl,  con- 


DEATH   OP  FIREBA  LARNA  103 

spicuous  with  their  white  feathers.  Of  these, 
one  penetrated  the  right  side  of  the  shield,  and 
passing  through,  fixed  itself  in  Cuculain's  hand, 
between  the  root-bones  of  the  fore  and  middle 
fingers,  and  another  entered  the  fleshy  part  of 
the  left  thigh  on  the  left  side  of  the  bone.  Nay- 
theless,  though  limping,  Cuculain  came  up  to 
Fireba.  Then  he,  Fireba  Larna,  snatched  at 
the  handle  of  his  sword,  but  ere  he  could  draw 
it,  Cuculain  dropped  his  spears,  and  smote  him 
with  the  palm  of  his  hand  upon  the  ear,  on  the 
left  side  of  his  head,  and  a  cloud  came  over  his 
mind.  Cuculain  brake  his  bow,  and  poured 
his  arrows  into  the  river.  After  that  Cuculain 
shook  and  bruised  him  till  he  cried  out  like  a 
boy  chastised  by  his  master.  Then  Cuculain 
drew  his  short  colg  from  his  side,  and  cut  into 
the  flesh,  and  took  out  the  arrows  from  his  leg 
and  from  his  hand,  and  he  flung  behind  him  his 
shield,  and  in  spite  of  pain  strode  indignant  to 
his  retreat,  disappearing  among  the  trees.  With 
difficulty  did  he  return  to  his  place,  and  a  dark- 
ness came  over  him. 

In  the  meantime  his  comrades  came  around 
Fireba  Larna,  who  lay  on  the  grass  gulping,  and 
the  red  blood  poured  out  of  his  mouth.  As  a 
trout  gasps  in  the  fisherman's  basket,  so  gasped 


104  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

the  unhappy  Fireba,  pouring  the  blood  from  lips 
whence  only  songs  and  laughter  and  happy 
breath  came  before.  Nevertheless,  he  died  not, 
but  lived,  yet  ever  after  he  was  afflicted  with 
pains  in  his  bones,  nor  ever  went  to  bed  without 
groaning,  nor  left  it  without  woe.  His  singing, 
too,  and  gay  music  were  ended.  For,  like  a  song- 
bird with  bright  plumage  and  glittering  eyes 
which  a  boy  captures,  spreading  lime  upon  a 
rail,  and  confines  in  a  narrow  cage,  so  did  he 
droop,  and  his  beauty  left  him,  and  his  sunny 
soul  was  overcast.  Instead  of  songs,  hence- 
forward he  composed  satiric  ranns  and  heart- 
vexing  lampoons,  and  in  the  end  he  was  slain 
by  Brascal,  second  son  of  Banat,  founder  of  the 
Bantree,  in  single  combat,  on  the  sandy  shore 
of  the  harbour  of  Bera,  hard  by  Dunamarc. 

This  was  the  first  foul  play  and  unfairness 
practised  against  Cuculain  by  the  men  of 
Meave. 


CHAPTER  XI 

LOK  MAC  FAVASH 

"  Alone  in  defence  of  the  Ultonians — 
Solitary,  keeping  ward  the  province — 
Lok,  the  fierce  King  of  Lath  Moah, 
Has  slain  my  two  black-birds, 
Myself  too,  he  severely   wounded 
When  I  was  entangled  by  the  eel."- 

THEN  amongst  the  men  of  Meave  arose  Lok 
Mac  Favash. 

"  Sufficient  to  me  now,"  he  said,  "  is  the 
renown  of  Cuculain  to  render  him  a  quarry 
worthy  of  my  spear.  To-morrow,  the  host  of 
Meave,  released  from  this  check,  will  cross  the 
Avon  Dia,  invading  the  lands  of  Ulla  and  in 
my  armoury  the  head  of  that  brave  stripling 
will  be  an  ornament  of  my  dun,  and  a  boast 
to  my  posterity."  In  the  morning  his  squires 
arrayed  him  in  his  battle-dress,  his  helmet  and 
neck-piece  and  capacious  leathern  coat  clasped 
round  his  breast  and  mighty  waist,  and  over 
that  they  bound  his  strong  breast-plate.  To  the 

105 


106  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

ford  he  went  like  a  moving  tower,  on  legs  like  the 
trunks  of  trees,  and  though  corpulent,  and  past 
the  prime  of  his  youth,  nor  very  quick  upon  his 
feet,  yet  was  his  strength  and  power  irresistible, 
which,  indeed,  all  men  knew  ;    for,  in  the  pre- 
vious year,  at  the  feast  of  Lunasa,  held  annu- 
ally in  honour  to  Lu  Lamfada,  on  the  plain  of 
Tailteen,  on  that  day  which  men  in  later  times 
named  the  Kalends  of  August,  he  had  broken  in 
the  skull  of  a  bull  with  a  single  blow  of  his  strong 
hand.     Seven  folds  of  tanned  ox-hide  stitched 
close  together,  o'er-ran  the  firm  osier  work  of  his 
shield,   and  above  that  was  plating  of  brass 
two  inches  thick,  and  no  man  in  the  host  of 
Meave,  save  Fergus  only,  could  wield  it,  but  on 
his  arm  it  was  lighter  than  the  bratta  which  in 
sudden  quarrel  a  man  winds  round  his  left  arm, 
a  defence  against  a  knife.     It,  three  brothers  of 
the  city  of  Limerick  had  made  for  him,  and  there 
was  a  painted  device  in  the  middle. 

But,  on  the  other  side,  came  down  Cuculain 
unarmoured,  his  linen  tunic  and  crimson  bratta 
soiled,  and  his  brooch  dulled  with  rust,  his  gold 
tresses  tangled,  and  his  countenance  hollow  and 
overcast ;  but  harder  than  steel  was  his  heart 
in  his  breast  and  the  men  of  Meave  were  as- 
tonished and  said  :  "Is  this,  indeed,  he  who 


LOK   MAC   FAVASH 


107 


played  at  hurley  with  us  ?  "  for  mighty  seemed 
his  stature,  and  terrible  his  advance,  striding 
through  the  stunted  willows  to  meet  his  enemy. 
Then  his  feet  plashed  in  the  shallow  water  of  the 
ford,  but  suddenly  he  shrieked,  and  his  spears 
fell  from  his  hand  ;  for,  above  the  head  of  Mac 
Favash  he  beheld  the  ghoul  that  had  accom- 
panied him  unseen  from  the  south,  resting  a 
bearded  chin  upon  skinny  knuckles,and  it  smiled 
at  him.  He,  Cuculain,  stood  like  one  petrified, 
his  eyes  starting  from  their  sockets,  and  his 
yellow  hair  stood  out  from  his  head.  Then 
advanced  Lok  Mac  Favash,  and  poising,  cast 
his  heavy  spear  at  Cuculain's  bare  breast,  but 
it  erring,  went  lower  towards  the  left,  and 
passed  through  the  shield  at  the  upper  rim,  and 
entered  the  fleshy  part  of  Cuculain's  upper  arm. 
Then  dire  agony  took  possession  of  Cuculain 
which  was  his  safety,  for  it  restored  him  to  him- 
self ;  but  Lok  Mac  Favash  drew  to  him  the  spear 
by  the  haft,  drawing  the  head  out  of  Cuculain's 
flesh,  but  the  shoulders  held  fast  in  the  shield, 
wherefore  he  dragged  the  youth  forward  strug- 
gling and  stumbling  in  the  water,  as  the  fisher- 
man draws  to  land  some  noble  fish,  and  the 
blood  spurted  out  and  reddened  his  white  tunic 
and  his  legs.  The  men  of  Meave  raised  a  shout, 


108  IN    THE    GATES    OP   THE   NORTH 

and  that  shout  was  heard  in  Emain  Macha,  and 
Laeg  sprang  from  his  lethargy,  and  listened,  with 
wild  eyes,  like  a  hound,  and  after  that  he  heard 
Cuculain  cry  out  in  his  agony. 

Meantime  Lok  Mac  Favash  was  dragging 
Cuculain  through  the  ford,  and  as  he  did  so  he 
laughed  at  and  insulted  him.  '  Verily  ere  now, 
O  men  of  Meave,"  he  said,  "  have  I  had  good 
sport  in  fishing.  For  in  the  sea  below  Limerick 
and  in  the  harbour  of  Ilaun  Ard  Nemeth  have  I 
drawn  into  my  boat  fish,  many  and  great  that 
strongly  resisted,  and  when  I  brought  them  into 
my  boat,  if  troublesome  I  struck  them  on  the 
head  with  a  stick.  But  never  till  now  have  I 
drawn  in  a  fish  so  vigorous,  or  that  yielded  such 
good  sport.  Nevertheless,  him,  too,  will  I 
mollify,  stroking  him  down  with  my  little  stick." 
Therewith  he  drew  his  war-mace,  the  head  alone 
seventy  pounds,  all  brass,  with  spikes  standing 
out  upon  it  like  the  spikes  of  the  sea  urchin,  and 
he  shook  it  playfully  backwards  towards  the 
men  of  Meave. 

Then  was  there  a  respite  for  Cuculain,  and  very 
quickly  and  like  the  crooked  track  of  the  light- 
ning, he  drew  his  sword  and  smote  the  spear 
of  Mac  Favash  just  in  front  of  the  shield,  and 
struck  in  twain  the  strong  ashed  tree.  Then 


LOK   MAC   FAVASH  log 

he  recovered  quickly  the  spears  which  had  fallen 
from  him,  and  with  a  cry  leaped  from  the  ford, 
strong  and  vigorous  as  a  salmon  springing  over 
a  cataract  in  early  summer  when  he  seeks  the 
upper  pools,  and  poising,  was  about  to  cast  one 
of  his  spears  at  Lok,  when,  again,  the  spectre, 
breathing  in  his  face  an  icy  breath,  confronted 
him,  more  hellish  than  before.  Yet  this  time 
he  shrieked  not,  nor  was  afraid,  for  despair  and 
wrath  had  made  him  mad.  Wherefore  altering 
the  direction  he  hurled  at  herself  the  long  spear, 
and  it  seemed  as  though  it  passed  through  a 
hollow  eye  socket. 

A  horrid  cry  penetrated  the  host,  whereat  the 
war-steeds  and  the  beasts  of  burden  ran  toge- 
ther alarmed,  and  the  whole  host  shuddered, 
and  men  saw  some  formless  thing  fall  heavily 
into  the  ford.  Then,  ere  Cuculain  could  clutch 
his  second  spear,  Mac  Favash  bore  down  upon 
him  like  a  great  ship  that  throws  her  billows  on 
both  sides  from  her  broad  prow,  and  beat  him 
back  into  the  ford,  using  both  shield  and  club. 
Twice  in  succession  he  smote  with  his  mighty 
club  the  shield  of  Cuculain,  and  shattered  all 
the  middle  of  that  light  shield  ;  Cuculain  stepped 
back  nimbly,  and  again  lifted  his  spear.  But 
once  more  he  cried  out  with  mingled  rage  and 


no          IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

fear,  and  he  stood  a  moment  as  if  glued  to  the 
spot,  with  his  legs  close  together  and  working 
frightfully   with   his   bloody   knees.     Then    as 
Lok  Mac  Favash  was  advancing  to  slay  him, 
Cuculain  sprang  high  out  of  the  water,   and 
around  his  ankles  and  below  the  calves  of  his 
legs  was  there  coiled  three  times  lapped,  the 
twine   of   a    great    eel,    blue,    with    glittering 
eyes  and  close-tapped  tail ;    but  as  he  sprang 
high  in  air  Cuculain  smote  at  it  with  his  spear, 
using  it  like  a  staff,  striking  on  the  left  side,  and 
with  a  croak  like  a  raven,  the  horrid  thing  un- 
wound, and  fell  into  the  bloody  water.     Then 
Cuculain  poised  once  more  his  spear,  and  cast 
it  at  Lok  Mac  Favash,  but  the  other  held  his 
round  shield  at  an  angle,  and  the  spear  screeched 
against  the  thick  brass,  grooving  it  as  the  ollav 
grooves  the  sand  with  his  pen,  teaching  children 
to  write,  and  once  again  Cuculain   cried  out, 
trampling  wildly  with  his  feet,  and  the  spray 
went  up  and  concealed  the  combat  from  the 
fierce  trampling  of  the  son  of  Sualtam,  and  the 
torn  fragments  of  a  strange  water-weed  floated 
down  the  stream  from  where  Cuculain  trampled, 
subduing  the  third  transformation  of  the  spectre. 
While  he  was  powerless   Lok   Mac   Favash 
struck  him  on  the  left  breast  with  his  spiked  club. 


LOK   MAC  FAVASH  III 

Now  all  the  middle  of  Cuculain's  shield  was 
broken  away,  and  there  was  a  ragged  border  all 
around,  and  with  this  border,  the  weakest  part  of 
the  shield,  he  intercepted  the  blow,  but  the  heavy 
mace  brake  through  it  and  fell  upon  his  breast, 
and  the  spikes  tore  his  flesh.  Then  Cuculain 
staggered.  Nevertheless  he  drew  his  sword  and 
struck  at  Lok,  but  the  other  caught  it  on  the 
very  boss  of  the  shield,  where  the  brass  was 
four  inches  thick,  and  the  sword  brake  and 
showered  about  the  stream. 

Then  Cuculain  looked  for  a  moment  to  the  wide 
heaven  and  the  sun,  for  it  was  blazing  noon,  and 
his  lips  moved,  and,  swerving  swiftly  to  the  right, 
he  stooped.  Now  a  row  of  great  pebbles  crossed 
the  ford,  the  work  of  some  ancient  king,  and  in  a 
crescent-shaped  line  traversed  the  water  and 
the  dry  land  on  each  side,  in  order  that,  even  in 
times  of  flood,  there  might  be  a  passage  for 
travellers,  and  below  this  was  a  chariot-ford 
where  the  heroes  fought.  Dropping  the  frag- 
ments of  his  shield,  he  laid  his  hands  on  the  lar- 
gest of  these,  smooth  and  white  on  the  top, 
worn  by  many  feet,  but  black  and  mossy  upon 
the  sides  ;  it,  two  strong  navvies,  such  as  men  are 
now,  could  with  difficulty  roll  to  the  shore,  using 
crow-bars,  but  Cuculain  raised  it  without  dim- 


112  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE   NORTH 

culty.  As  a  boy,  eager  to  get  at  the  sweet 
kernel,  with  ease  lifts  the  strong-shelled  fruit  of 
the  palm  tree,  and  smashes  it  against  the  flagged 
basement,  so  Cuculain  raised  on  high  above  his 
head  the  mighty  pebble,  standing  with  legs  apart 
in  the  ford,  and  dashed  it  on  the  centre  of  the 
huge  shield  of  Lok  Mac  Favish.  The  great  stone 
smashed  through  the  broad  shield  of  Lok,  and 
smote  him  below  the  breast,  and  bore  him  to  the 
ground,  falling  upon  him,  as  one  who  wrestles 
with  his  enemy  and  falls  with  him  to  the  ground, 
and  it  crushed  him  down  under  the  water  ;  but 
it  wanted  not  water  to  slay  him,  for  his  body  was 
broken  from  the  impulse  of  the  heavy  missile. 
Cuculain  seized  the  spear-tree  of  Lok's  spear 
which  was  eddying  around  the  place,  and  leant 
upon  it,  panting  red  all  over  as  though  he  had 
ascended  out  of  a  bath  of  blood.  Then  he  drew 
himself  together  and  sat  down  on  one  of  the 
great  pebbles,  bowing  his  head  between  his  hands, 
and  vomited  much  blood  into  the  stream.  After 
that  he  rose  and  walked  to  the  other  shore, 
staggering  as  he  went,  and  steadying  his  steps 
with  the  spear,  and  passed  in  between  the 
willows  ;  and  the  whole  host  of  Meave  was 
silent,  and  every  eye  watched  him,  warriors 
craning  forward  with  raised  hands,  watching 


LOK   MAC   FAVASH  113 

eagerly  if  he  would  fall.  As  when  a  sportsman 
and  his  beaters  watch  eagerly  the  flight  of  a  bird 
which  they  deem  is  wounded,  and  one  says  he 
will  fall,  and  another  not,  so  the  great  host  of 
Meave  watched  Cuculain  as  he  went  back,  till 
the  trees  concealed  him.  Then  there  broke  out 
a  universal  clamour  ;  but  beyond  the  trees,  amid 
nettles  and  nightshade,  Cuculain  lay  outstretched 
in  a  deadly  swoon. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE   TEMPTATION   OF   FARDIA 

THAT  night  it  was  resolved  by  Queen  Meave 
that  Fardia  of  the  Firbolgs  should  go  out  against 
Cuculain.  Those  who  knew  Fardia,  the  son  of 
Daman,  marvelled  with  one  another  how  the 
Queen  would  fare  in  that  undertaking,  for  he 
was  a  dear  friend  of  Cuculain.  Fardia  was  not 
of  the  blood  of  Milesius,  nor  was  his  race 
equal  in  rank  with  that  which  now  ruled  over 
Erin,  though  in  ancient  days  the  Firbolgs,  men 
said,  were  supreme  lords  over  Erin. 

Thinking  upon  these  things  and  seeing  the 
indignities  put  upon  his  nation,  he  loved  not  the 
warfare  of  Erin,  and  his  youth  he  had  spent  in 
foreign  lands  where  no  disgrace  attached  to  his 
people,  and  he  bore  himself  proudly  before  the 
lords  of  the  race  of  Milith,  but  gently  to  his  own 
people  and  they  loved  him. 

Then  Queen  Meave  called  to  her  Brasal  Bawn, 

the  herald,  and  he  came  humbly,  bearing  the 

114 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FARDIA  115 

white  staff,  and  adorned  with  insignia  more 
gaudy  than  was  customary  in  his  office,  for  he 
was  of  a  great  and  swelling  presence,  and  she 
bade  him  invite  to  the  feast  that  night  in  the 
royal  pavilion,  Fardia,  son  of  Daman  of  the 
Firbolgs.  Brasal  Bawn  bowed  himself  very 
low  before  the  Queen,  and  went  out,  and  passed 
through  the  camp,  glancing  sideways  as  he 
went,  bearing  the  herald's  white  staff.  When 
he  came  to  the  quarter  of  the  Firbolgs  he  went 
between  the  spear-men  at  the  entrance,  and 
passed  the  armourers'  quarter,  loud  with  the 
noise  of  files,  and  found  the  Firbolgs  amusing 
themselves  casting  great  stones,  with  much 
clamour  and  loud  laughter.  Mighty  of  bone 
and  thew  were  those  champions,  only  not  so 
comely  as  the  warriors  of  the  race  of  Milith.  He 
passed  roughly  through  the  crowd  that  encircled 
those  who  competed,  and  they  gave  way  before 
the  envoy  of  the  High  Queen. 

"  Such,"  said  he,  with  a  loud  voice,  "  are 
ever  the  rude  pastimes  of  the  Firbolgs,  therefore 
it  is  well  that  ye  should  be  segregated  from  the 
rest,  but  cease  now  your  rock-throwing,  and  tell 
me  if  you  know  one  Fardia,  son  of  Daman,  son 
of  Dari,  for  I  bear  to  him  a  command  from  the 
High  Queen." 


Il6  IN    THE    GATES    OP   THE    NORTH 

A  cloud  passed  over  the  faces  of  the  warriors, 
who,  deemed  that  the  fame  of  Fardia  was  greater 
than  was  implied  in  the  words  of  the  herald  ; 
nevertheless  they  led  him  to  where  was  Fardia 
reclined  on  the  grassy  side  of  a  mound,  musing 
and  meditating,  and  JEd  Shievra  lay  near  him. 
Brasal  drew  nigh  and  touched  him  roughly  with 
the  end  of  the  herald's  staff  as  one  who  would 
rouse  a  hound  from  his  place  upon  the  hearth, 
and  at  the  same  time  delivered  his  message. 

Fardia  turned  quickly,  and  sat  up,  shaking 
his  yellow  locks  and  drawing  down  his  heavy 
brows,  and  forthwith  he  stood  upon  his  feet, 
and  seized  the  staff  from  the  herald,  and  struck 
him  back-handed  across  the  right  side  of  the  head 
above  the  ear,  and  the  staff  brake,  and  Brasal 
Bawn  fell  to  the  ground  heavily,  as  an  ox  falls 
when  his  front  yields  before  the  brazen  hammer, 
the  warriors  smiled  but  anon  feared  at  the  insult 
put  upon  the  herald  of  the  High  Queen,  and 
Fardia  cried  aloud,  "  Take  beyond  the  lines  this 
fool.     Let   him   not    come   again    against    the 
Firbolgs."     So  saying,  he  flung  from  him  the 
end  of  the  staff  that  remained  in  his  hand. 
Brasal  after  that  arose  from  the  ground  tremb- 
ling and  dazed,  and  him  JEd  Shievra  led  outside 
the  lines  whimpering.     By  a  secret  way  he  went 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FARDIA  117 

to  where  was  his  own  booth,  avoiding  the  people 
of  the  camp,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  Meave. 
Him  then  his  servants  washed,  and  they  dressed 
the  wound,  and  set  before  him  a  mess  of  hog's 
flesh  with  onions,  and  the  red  root  of  the  Macan, 
curds  in  a  wooden  bowl  and  ruddy  ale,  and  his 
heart  revived  in  him.  Then  he  sent  for  Far- 
carnal,  son  of  Rechta,  who  lived  under  the  shadow 
of  the  King's  Dun  at  Ath-an-Rie,  one  cunning 
in  the  laws,  but  not  held  in  great  honour  among 
the  discerning,  who  with  others  of  his  craft 
followed  the  host  of  Meave.  Straightway  he 
appeared,  and  with  him  a  boy  bearing  the 
notched  tablets,  in  which  were  set  down  the 
enechlan  of  every  rank  in  Erin,  and  the  diera 
and  the  eraic,  and  he  explained  with  precision 
to  Brasal  Bawn  the  ancient  laws  of  the  Fene- 
chas  as  they  dealt  with  insult  and  injury,  and 
Brasal  Bawn  was  well  pleased,  and  his  greatness 
returned  to  him  again,  and  many  times  he 
pledged  Far-carnal  in  the  red  ale,  and  reviled 
Fardia,  the  son  of  Daman. 

Then  Lewy  Mac  Conroy  and  Maine  Lamgarf, 
son  of  Aileel,  and  Cormac  Conlingas,  son  of  the 
King  of  Ulla,  for  they  were  the  most  honourable 
of  the  knights  of  Meave,  were  sent  by  the  saba 
of  the  kings  to  bring  Fardia  to  the  feast ;  and 


Il8  IN   THE   GATES    OP   THE   NORTH 

Fardia  saw  them  afar  off  passing  between  the 
tents  in  their  glittering  equipment  and  bravery, 
and  heard  their  light  laughter  and  merriment. 
That  displeased  him,  for  haughty  and  lonely- 
sorrowful  was  he  in  mind,  and  he  arose  and  went 
as  though  he  saw  them  not,  though  they  were 
now  very  nigh,  and  went  and  stood  among  his 
own  people  where  they  hurled  the  great  stones. 
He  differed  not  at  all  in  raiment  from  the  chiefs 
of  his  nation,  but  went  roughly  like  themselves, 
though  in  the  Picts  and  the  Albanah,  no  chief- 
tain or  king  outshone  him  in  his  attire.  Only 
in  stature  and  behaviour  did  he  differ  from  them 
at  all,  and  the  warriors  stood  aside  when  he' 
approached. 

Then  came  the  envoys  of  the  Queen  before  him, 
and  respectfully  saluted  him,  and  Cormac  Con- 
lingas  delivered  the  message  from  the  Queen. 
Fardia  made  answer  that  it  was  one  of  his  gesa, 
and  a  silly  one,  not  to  feast  in  Erin  with  the 
children  of  Milesius,  but  only  with  his  own 
people  ;  and  when  Cormac  Conlingas  began  to 
reason  with  him,  he  answered  imperiously  that 
it  was  not  the  custom  of  the  Firbolgs  to  infringe 
their  gesa,  and  he  nodded  to  JEd  Shievra  that 
he  should  bring  forth  ale.  Thereat  wrath  col- 
lected in  the  heart  of  Maine  Lamgarf,  and  he 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF   FARDIA  IIQ 

moved  uneasily  on  his  feet,  but  Cormac  Conlin- 
gas  drew  down  his  brows  upon  him  and  caused 
him  to  withhold  his  speech.  Cormac  himself 
after  that  went  to  where  were  the  Firbolgs.  He 
poised  the  stone  in  his  hand,  great  enough  to  be 
the  top  stone  of  a  cromlech,  and  returning,  said 
that  no  champions  in  Erin  were  so  mighty  as 
the  Firbolgs,  and  that  if  such  warriors  were 
around  him  in  the  great  war  concerning  the 
children  of  Usna  he  and  Fergus  would  never 
have  been  expelled  out  of  the  North  by  the 
Ultonians.  Then,  in  spite  of  shame,  a  light 
beamed  in  the  face  of  the  son  of  Daman,  the 
bright  tear  started  into  his  eyes,  and  the  great 
flagon  trembled  in  his  hand. 

There,  then,  sitting  at  a  table  of  red  yew,  in 
front  of  Fardia's  booth,  they  drank  the  ruddy 
ale  and  Fardia  forgot  his  haughtiness  and  told 
many  tales  of  the  wars  between  the  Africans  and 
the  nations  of  Espan.  When  they  arose  to 
depart,  Maine  Lamgarf,  son  of  Aileel  and  Meave, 
brake  forth  and  said  :  "  O  Fardia  Mac  Daman, 
methinks  thou  art  the  noblest  and  bravest  in  all 
this  great  host.  Well,  indeed,  can  I  believe  the 
rumours  concerning  thee,  seeing  thee  with  my 
eyes  and  hearing  thee  with  my  ears.  Where- 
fore, no  man  shall  hereafter,  I  being  by,  dis- 


120  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

parage,  in  my  hearing,  the  race  of  the  Firbolgs, 
I  am  Maine,  of  the  rough  hand  and  tongue,  I 
love  not  stratagem  or  concealment,  therefore 
know  that  the  High  Queen  desires  that  thou 
shalt  slay  for  us  the  son  of  Sualtam,  and  deliver 
us  from  the  toils  of  the  pernicious  contract,  and 
a  great  reward  is  prepared  for  thee  in  land,  and 
in  cattle,  and  in  gold." 

Then  Fardia  felt  sick  at  heart,  and  a  pallor 
overspread  his  face,  and  he  said  : — 

"  Not  if  the  saba  of  the  kings  should  give  to  me 
the  whole  of  the  level  plain  of  Ai,  which  is  the 
public  land  of  the  Olnemacta  ;  not  if  to  this  were 
added  all  the  treasures  laid  up  in  the  two  Moy 
Turas,  both  of  the  Fomorians,  and  that  where 
my  own  people  are  interred,  or  all  that  are  con- 
tained in  Tlatga,  Usna,  and  Tailteen,  nor  all 
that  the  sacred  precincts  of  Tara  hold  within 
its  border  at  the  Feis  Tara  what  time  its  king 
is  undisputed  lord  of  all  Erin  ;  not  for  this  would 
I  look  in  anger  upon  Cuculain,  son  of  Sualtam, 
nor  slay  him,  nor  dishonour  him  ;  though  this, 
too,  I  know  full  well,  that  I  alone,  the  Firbolg, 
of  all  whom  Erin  contains  within  its  sea-swept 
bounds,  could  subdue  the  Hound  of  Battle  of 
Murthemney.  And  tempt  me  not  again,  O  son 
of  the  High  Queen,  for  no  gentle  answer  shall 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FAKDIA  121 

then  be  in  my  mouth.  Well  ye  knew  the 
ancient  friendship  between  me  and  Cuculain  ! 
Our  sovereignty  we  the  Firbolgs  have  long  since 
lost,  and  our  lands,  and  our  honours,  yet  ye,  the 
children  of  Milith,  desire  that  we  should  still 
further  dishonour  the  vows  of  our  order,  and 
expel  our  heart's  love  at  your  pleasure.  Verily, 
O  son  of  the  High  Queen,  the  Firbolgs,  in  their 
degradation,  are  more  kingly/' 

Then  returned  the  envoys  in  silence  to  the 
Queen  and  the  saba  of  her  kings,  and  they  told 
what  had  happened,  and  said,  "  Prouder  than  the 
King  of  Tara,  when  all  Erin  admits  his  sover- 
eignty, is  this  haughty  champion  of  the  Firbolgs." 
And  Cormac  Conlingas  said,  "  Thyself,  O  Queen, 
or  thy  fair  daughter,  alone  can  bend  his  stubborn 
soul,"  for  very  subtle-minded  and  discerning 
was  he. 

Then  the  Queen  sent  to  him  Fionavar,  her 
beautiful  child  of  the  arched  eyebrows,  and 
Fardia  come  forth  to  meet  her,  and  the  noblest 
of  the  Firbolgs  with  him,  for  he  saw  her  afar  off ; 
and  Fionavar  wondered  at  their  stature,  for 
they  were  very  great,  majestic  with  unshorn 
beards.  Fardia  bowed  himself  very  low,  even  to 
the  ground,  before  the  daughter  of  the  High  Queen, 
but  she  raised  him  with  her  hand,  and  said  :— 


122  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

"  Shame  fills  me,  O  son  of  Daman,  and  sorrow, 
whene'er  I  come  into  the  presence  of  thy  nation, 
knowing  whose  are  the  duns  in  which  we  dwell, 
and  who  reclaimed  from  forest  the  territories 
whose  tributes  and  sovereignty  we  enjoy ;  and 
not  by  our  own  prowess,  too,  did  we  come  to 
this,  but  through  the  contrivance  of  the  high 
gods  of  Erin  who  brought  down  thy  race,  for  their 
power  is  over  all.  And  verily,  often  ere  this 
have  I  been  sad,  seeing  the  noblest  of  thy 
nation,  and  their  kingly  bearing,  and  their 
might.  But  now  the  Queen  hath  sent  me,  for 
she  greatly  desires  that  thou  shouldst  feast  with 
her  to-night  in  the  royal  pavilion,  and  because 
of  thy  gesa  there  shall  not  be  bidden  to  this 
banquet  any  of  the  children  of  Milith,  and  truly 
this  vow  was  most  right,  for  they,  the  haughty 
princes,  revere  not  always  the  guest  when  ale 
hath  loosed  their  tongues.  Beside  thyself  and 
thy  comrades,  Meave  only  and  myself,  who 
through  Matha  of  Meyrisk  derive  our  line  from 
the  Firbolgs,  will  be  present  at  this  feast/' 

Then  Fardia  answered  very  humbly,  saying 
that  he  would  go,  and  protested  much  concern- 
ing the  ancient  boyish  vow,  and  after  that  Fiona- 
var  talked  with  Fardia  and  the  Firbolgs,  turning 
sweetly  from  warrior  to  rough  warrior.  Then 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FAEDIA  123 

an  attendant  poured  forth  metheglin  into  a 
silver  cup,  and  presented  it  to  Fionavar,  and  she 
drank  it,  and  spake  of  the  making  of  the  drink 
for  she  herself  was  accustomed  to  make  mead, 
and  at  Rath-Cruhane  her  bees  were  hived  in  a 
sunny  field,  eastward  from  the  great  dun, 
beneath  a  warm  hedge,  and  that  field  was  called 
Gort  Fionavar.  When  she  left  with  the  queens 
that  were  her  company,  Fardia  sent  a  battalion 
of  spearmen  who  attended  her  to  the  royal  pavi- 
lion, and  they  came  back  and  dispersed  each  man 
to  his  tent. 

Then  went  Fardia  into  his  booth,  bending  his 
lofty  head  in  the  door-way  where  the  Firbolgs 
had  made  for  him  a  great  booth,  by  the  meeting 
of  tall,  straight  firs  set  on  end,  with  interlacing 
rods  and  lissom  twigs  of  the  willow  gathered 
along  the  banks  of  the  Avon  Dia.  They  had 
roofed  it  above  with  water-flags,  securing  them 
against  the  wind  with  ropes  of  twisted  hay, 
crossing  and  recrossing  like  a  trellis-work,  and 
had  worked  wicker  windows  into  the  sides,  to  be 
opened  and  closed  as  the  wind  blew  from  this 
point  or  from  that.  Yet  though  high  the  door- 
way, still  bowed  Fardia,  his  yellow  head  as  he 
entered  the  booth.  Within  were  three  large 
boxes  of  pine-wood  ranged  against  the  wall. 


124  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

These  he  unlocked,  and  took  from  thence 
many  garments  bright  with  corcur,  and 
rue,  and  glaisheen,  and  short  colgs  of  glittering 
bronze,  with  handles  of  ivory  riveted  with  silver 
studs,  and  long,  shapely  swords,  straight  through- 
out, or  broadening  towards  the  middle,  but  end- 
ing in  a  point  keen  as  a  needle,  most  like  the 
beautiful  blade  of  the  waterflag  growing  luxu- 
riant in  the  spring-time  in  the  wet  inches  of 
the  river,  and  trembling  with  its  golden  flower. 
Thence  make  boys  their  mimic  boats  with  sails, 
and  launch  upon  the  running  stream.  These  all 
he  took  and  laid  upon  the  rugs  upon  the  ground, 
and  JEd  Shievra  assisted  him. 

After  this  he  despatched  his  attendants  to 
the  chiefs  of  the  Firbolgs,  selecting  by  name 
such  as  were  the  noblest  and  most  princely, 
and  most  worthy  to  sit  at  meat  with  the  great 
Queen  and  the  gentle  maiden,  twenty-five  in 
all,  and  when  they  came  to  him,  he  distributed 
to  each  man  raiment  and  bright  weapons, 
brooches,  tores,  and  minds,  and  shining  shields. 
They  were  in  the  remnant  of  a  mighty  eric 
which  had  been  rendered  to  him  after  the  coming 
together  of  Tain. 

Thence  Fardia  made  distribution  among  his 
comrades  ;    to  every  man  a  brat  and  an  mar, 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF   FARDIA  125 

and  a  lena,  bright  ocrat  for  the  legs,  and  shoes 
glittering  with  silver  thread  and  findruiney : 
and  to  his  singing  men  and  harpers,  his  jugglers 
and  chanters  of  tales,  he  gave  an  equipment 
in  like  manner.  He  urged  them  all  to  make 
careful  preparation  for  the  feast,  and  to  wrong 
not  the  Firbolgs  before  the  great  Queen  and  the 
gracious  Princess  Fionavar,  of  the  delicate  eye- 
brows. She  was  the  youngest  child  of  Aileel 
and  Meave,  having  three  sisters  and  seven 
brothers.  To  Aileel  there  were  born  other 
children  also,  whom  his  concubines  bore  to  him 
amongst  the  Olnemacta. 

Meantime,  ^Ed  Shievra  bore  water  from  with- 
out the  camp,  and  filled  the  hero's  keeve,  and  he 
himself,  Fardia,  the  son  of  Daman,  bathed  his 
mighty  limbs,  pouring  many  tunes  the  cold 
water  over  his  head,  and  he  stood  forth  out  of 
the  bath  while  the  steam  ascended  from  his  sides. 
Then,  carefully  choosing  it,  he  put  around  him 
a  lena  of  fine  linen,  three-fold,  and  it  descended 
to  his  knotted  knees,  with  loose  collar,  and  stripes 
white,  scarlet,  and  purple,  running  from  the 
waist  to  the  hem.  Then  he  combed  his  yellow 
hair,  lustrous  like  a  sheaf  of  gold  thread  in  the 
house  of  a  kerd,  falling  in  dense  curls  on  his 
great  shoulders.  He  who  next  touched  that 


126  IN   THE    GATES    OF   THE   NOBTH 

hair  was  Cuculain  raising  tress  after  yellow  tress, 
while  the  hot  tears  fell.  But  he,  Fardia,  exult- 
ing, put  upon  him  an  inar,  also  linen,  dyed 
saffron,  with  loose  sleeves,  slashed  with  silver 
and  lined  with  fine,  soft  white  skin  brought  from 
over-seas  by  the  merchant.  From  beneath  the 

< 

inar  he  drew  forth  the  collar  of  the  lena,  deco- 
rated with  gold  thread  and  crimson,  and  it 
surrounded  his  neck  and  shoulders,  and  with 
many  gold  clasps  he  fastened  the  inar  in  front, 
and  at  the  throat  he  closed  it  to  him  with  a 
fibula  of  gold,  six  ounces  in  weight.  After  that 
he  took  a  belt  made  of  innumerable  little  silver 
rings  linked  together,  a  span  was  its  breadth, 
and  in  front  where  the  ends  joined  there  was  the 
likeness  of  two  serpents  interlaced.  This  he 
himself  had  brought  back  from  Espan,  receiving 
it  as  a  ransom,  having  taken  prisoner  a  stripling, 
son  of  a  noble  African.  This  he  clasped  around 
his  waist,  confining  the  loose  inar  which  des- 
cended not  below  his  hips,  covering  the  upper 
buds  of  the  variegated  stripes  of  the  lena.  Then 
upon  his  shining  feet  he  bound  his  sandals,  lined 
with  soft  doeskin,  winding  over  ankle  and  instep 
the  pliant  strap,  and  he  turned  down  the  ends 
carefully  under  the  loop.  Into  its  place  in  the 
belt  he  passed  his  colg,  gold-handled,  a  cubit 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FABDIA  I2/ 

in  length,  such  as  men  wore  then,  and  gems 
glittered  in  the  gold.  Last  of  all,  over  his  ample 
shoulders  he  flung  his  vast  bratta,  of  crimson 
silk,  bright  as  the  clouds  of  sunrise,  glittering 
with  strange  hues  that  came  and  went,  and 
secured  it  with  a  great  brooch  of  gold,  round  as  a 
wheel,  to  glitter  upon  his  breast.  The  long 
delg  of  it  traversed  the  folds  of  the  gorgeous 
fuan. 

Then  Fardia  strode  resplendent  from  his  tent. 
The  Firbolgs  shouted  when  they  saw  him,  and 
the  young  nobles,  his  young  friends  and  com- 
rades, ran  round  him  jesting,  yet,  too,  they  were 
astonished,  for  no  mortal  man  did  he  resemble, 
and  they  said  that  such  was  Angus  of  the  Brugh, 
son  of  the  Dagda,  for  he  seemed  like  a  fairy  prince 
of  the  Tuatha  of  Erin,  emerging  from  a  sacred 
dell  in  one  of  the  mountains  of  the  Shee.  Along 
with  Fardia  came  forth  his  attendant,  bearing 
his  sword  and  belt,  his  spears,  and  a  banqueting 
shield,  pure  white,  inscribed  with  a  cunning 
device  wrought  for  him  by  a  kerd  of  the  Olne- 
macta. 

So  went  forth  Fardia  and  his  comrades,  and 
the  armour-bearers  went  before  them.  In  the 
main  street,  hard  by  the  entrance  of  the  quarter 
of  the  Firbolgs,  stood  Firamah,  a  soothsayer, 


128  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

very  skilful  in  auguries  and  the  notes  of  birds  ; 
and  he  came  before  Fardia,  shedding  tears,  and 
cast  himself  upon  the  ground,  and  clasped  his 
feet.  Through  nine  generations  his  ancestors 
had  served  the  ancestors  of  Fardia,  but  he  was 
himself  free,  having  been  born  in  the  tenth. 
But  Fardia  laughed,  and  raised  him  with  his 
hand,  for  he  cared  not  at  all  for  auguries,  and  it 
was  a  grief  to  the  Firbolgs  when  they  heard  him 
scoffing,  for  much  travel  and  passing  to  and  fro 
had  made  him  unwise.  For  Firaenah  they  had 
erected  a  hut  in  a  remote  part  of  the  camp, 
where  there  was  a  quiet  hollow  and  a  pond,  and 
many  wrens  and  ravens  hopped  around  the  hut 
or  rested  upon  the  roof,  and  there  was  a  ceaseless 
clamour ;  but  Firaenah  understood  all  their 
voices,  ever  listening  with  attentive  ear,  and  the 
people  honoured  him  greatly.  He  now  with 
many  tears  implored  of  Fardia  not  to  go  to  that 
banquet,  for  an  evil  fate  was  impending  upon 
him,  and  that  sinister  and  evil  were  the  notes 
of  all  the  birds.  But  Fardia  laughed  lightly, 
releasing  himself,  and  so  fared  forward  with  his 
comrades.  Then  the  old  man  returned  to  his 
hut  weeping,  and  the  Firbolgs  came  round  him, 
inquiring  eagerly.  A  dark  rumour  went  through 
the  camp,  and  there  arose  a  lamentation,  as  in  a 


THE  TEMPTATION   OF  FABDIA 


129 


house  of  the  dead  when  the  traveller  sees  the 
lights  and  hears  the  voice  of  the  mourners,  so 
wept  and  lamented  the  blameless  Firbolgs 
over  their  champion,  as  though  he  were  already 
slain. 

But  Fardiaand  his  companions  were  drawing 
near  to  the  royal  pavilion  full  of  exultation  and 
glory,  and  the  old  king  welcomed  them  according 
to  the  ancient  custom  with  a  feeble  clapping 
of  his  aged  hands,  a -thin,  weak  noise,  not  such 
as  when,  in  the  ancient  days,  he  had  welcomed 
to  Rath-Cruhane  the  many  kings  whom  over 
tuath  and  mor-tuath  he  had  appointed,  having 
quelled  the  lawless  tribes  of  the  Olnemacta,  a 
bridegroom  high-worthy  even  of  Meave.  But 
she,  Meave,  the  daughter  of  Eocha,  rose  with 
unfaded  awful  beauty  to  receive  the  might  of  the 
Firbolgs,  and  along  with  her  the  gentle  princess, 
and  Fardia  marked  where  his  shield  was  hanged 
upon  the  wall,  for  the  armour-bearers  were  the 
first  to  enter  the  feasting  chambers  ;  and  Aileel 
was  upon  his  left  hand,  and  Fionavar  upon  the 
right. 

There,  then,  they  feasted  under  the  light  of 
waxen  tapers,  tall  as  a  warrior's  spear,  not  per- 
mitted in  the  houses  of  the  nobles,  and  to  the 
music  of  many  an  angled  harp. 

x 


130  IK   TBE   GATES    OF   THE   NOETH 

Then,  when  the  night  was  advanced  and 
Fionavar  and  the  princesses  that  were  her  com- 
pany had  withdrawn  to  the  pavilion  of  the 
Queen's  people  without  the  camp,  and  when  the 
red  ale  had  made  riot  in  men's  veins,  Queen 
Meave  unfolded  to  him  the  resolution  of  the 
saba  of  her  kings,  namely,  that  Fardia  should 
fight  with  Cuculain  on  the  morrow  and  that  if 
the  hound  of  Ulla  should  fall  by  his  hand,  or  be 
driven  from  the  ford,  he  should  receive  twenty 
ploughlands  of  the  level  plains  of  Ai,  paying 
nothing  in  cattle,  gold,  or  weapons,  nor  yet  by 
military  service,  save  voluntarily,  and  also 
cattle  and  farm  implements,  and  the  youngest 
daughter  of  the  High  Queen,  Fionavar,  the 
sweet-voiced  princess,  in  marriage,  with  a  great 
dowry,  and  that  if  he  refused  he  should  suffer 
a  proclamation  of  disgrace  and  outlawry  to  be 
determined  on  at  the  council  of  the  kings,  and 
announced  before  the  whole  people,  with  the 
opprobrious  chanting  of  satirists  and  druids, 
so  that  shame  and  disgrace  would  cling  to  him 
and  his  nation  to  the  end  of  time.  Fardia  con- 
sented to  meet  Cuculain,  but  not  through  fear 
of  the  druids  and  their  hilltop  satires,  nor  from 
avarice ;  but  owning  to  the  great  love  and 
affection  he  had  conceived  for  the  gentle  princess 


THE  TEMPTATION  OP  FARDIA  131 

even  while  she  was  yet  a  young  child,  for  she  was 
accustomed  to  accompany  Aileel  and  Meave  in 
the  royal  circuits  which  they  made  each  year, 
and  though  warring  in  far  lands,  that  gentle 
countenance  beamed  ever  before  his  mind,  star- 
like  and  pure.  Then  the  Queen  sent  for  six 
out  of  the  nine  kings  of  territories  which  were 
kings  under  her,  and  a  solemn  pledge  was  given 
before  the  aire-forgail  of  the  province,  he  who 
was  president  of  the  high  court  of  the  whole 
nation  of  the  Olnemacta,  and  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses,  according  to  the  ancient  law ;  and 
besides  all  this,  Queen  Meave  invoked  the  sacred 
names  of  Buan,  and  Morann,  and  Cairbre  Cin- 
cait,  high  gods  of  the  Olnemacta,  that  she  would 
fulfil  those  conditions. 

Also  the  High  Queen  took  the  royal  brooch 
from  her  breast  and  gave  it  to  Fardia,  and 
Fardia  gave  his  brooch  to  the  Queen.  After 
that  they  devoted  themselves  again  to  merri- 
ment and  festivity,  and  at  midnight  Fardia 
and  his  comrades  returned  to  their  quarters  with 
much  clamour,  and  dispersed  among  their 
booths. 

Through  the  night  there  was  silence  in  the 
wide  host  of  Meave  ;  but  at  day-dawn  JEd 
Shievra  stood  beside  the  couch  of  his  lord  with 


132  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

a  cup  of  cold  water  from  the  spring,  keen  with 
frost,  and  Fardia  drank  it  from  the  hand  of  his 
attendant,  and  sat  up.  But  the  inebriation  had 
gone  out  of  him,  and  he  remembered  all,  and 
cried  out,  and  tore  his  yellow  hair,  swaying  to 
and  fro,  and  ^Ed  Shievra  stood  silent  beside  him. 
Then  came  the  warriors  of  his  tribe,  and  Fardia 
started  forth  from  his  couch,  and  arrayed  him- 
self in  his  battle-dress  ;  but  he  removed  not  the 
royal  brooch  from  off  his  breast.  Then  har- 
nessed ^Ed  Shievra  the  war-steeds,  and  yoked 
the  chariot,  and  Md  Shievra  seized  the  scourge 
and  urged  forward  the  willing  steeds. 

In  like  manner,  from  the  rest  of  the  camp 
came  forth  the  kings  and  warriors  of  the  four 
provinces  of  Erin,  and  poured  forth  after  the 
son  of  Daman  to  the  ford,  eastward.  Moreover, 
on  all  the  eminences  and  rising  ground  rearward 
gathered  the  women  and  provision  bringers, 
even  the  innumerable  camp-followers  that  fol- 
lowed the  course  of  the  men-of-war ;  and  the 
whole  land,  even  to  the  verge  of  the  plain  where 
they  darkened  against  the  sky,  was  filled  with 
the  great  multitude.  But  on  the  other  side  of 
the  stream,  lo,  the  silent  woods  and  the  white 
untrodden  road,  and  beyond  that  the  plains  of 
Ulla,  all  waste  and  silent,  for  there  was  no  man 


THE  TEMPTATION  OF  FARDIA  133 

there,  neither  oxen  or  horses,  not  any  living 
thing  that  might  be  seen,  only  empty  fields  and 
deserted  homesteads. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

A    SUNDERED    FRIENDSHIP 

IT  was  night  and  chilly  with  frost  when  Cuculain 
awoke  out  of  the  swoon ;  his  limbs  were  stiff, 
and  he  lay  down  again  and  wept,  not  for  the 
pain,  but  for  loneliness  and  sorrow. 

All  that  night,  Cuculain's  mind  was  clouded 
and  disturbed,  for  he  said  that  his  clan  had 
conspired  against  him,  seeing  that  he  was  aban- 
doned and  alone,  warring  now  for  many  days 
against  the  whole  host  of  Meave,  keeping  ward 
over  the  gates  of  the  province.  And  now,  too, 
he  knew  that  he  should  die,  for  the  thought  of 
flight,  and  of  the  surrender  of  Murthemney 
to  the  waster  came  not  at  all  into  his  noble  mind, 
and  he  called  upon  all  the  Red  Branch  by  name, 
lamenting  loud,  Laegairey  the  Victorious,  and 
Celtcar,  the  son  of  Uther,  Fergus  Mac  Leda, 
Factna  Mac  Mahoon,  and  his  foster  brethren, 
sons  of  the  High  King,  and  Conall  Carna,  dearest 
of  all,  and  his  voice  penetrated  the  starry  night, 

134 


'A  SUNDERED  FRIENDSHIP  135 

for  he  cried  out  as  a  woman  cries  when  the  man 
whom  she  loves  has  forsaken  her  ;  so  in  his 
agony  Cuculain,  the  son  of  Sualtam,  lifted  up 
his  voice,  and  the  men  of  Meave  heard  him  ;  for 
he  said  that  he  was  forsaken  and  all  men  leagued 
against  him.  Moreover,  as  the  moon  set,  he 
saw  faces  that  moved  amongst  the  trees  mocking 
him,  and  horrid  things,  formless  and  cold,  es- 
trays  out  of  the  fold  of  hell,  wandering  blots 
of  the  everlasting  darkness,  and  there  was 
laughter  in  the  hollow  chambers  of  the  forest, 
and  again  the  Banshee  of  Lok  Mac  Favash 
smiled  at  him  and  beckoned,  and  the  cold  water- 
serpent  clung  around  his  feet,  and  all  the  chords 
of  his  mind  were  torn  or  unstrung,  for  it  was  the 
purpose  of  the  high  gods  of  the  Gael  to  deliver 
him  over  to  great  affliction.  Like  an  army  of 
devastators  that  waste  and  burn  and  drive 
away,  leaving  behind  them  blackened  homes  and 
streams  made  thick  with  blood,  so  wasted  they 
all  the  pleasant  tracts  of  his  serene  spirit.  At 
first  the  horses,  being  affrighted,  pulled  madly 
at  their  tethers,  but  anon  when  he  sank  down 
between  them  like  a  stone  they  stooped  down 
over  him  wondering,  and  he  felt  their  warm 
breath  upon  his  face.  Then  the  demons  that 
affrighted,  him  gave  back^  and  he  arose  and  put 


136  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

an  arm  around  the  neck  of  either  steed,  and 
stood  between  them  trembling.  With  their 
fleet  limbs,  swifter  than  the  naked  winds  of 
March,  had  he  borne  away  the  daughter  of 
Manach,  high-souled  Emer  out  of  Bregia.  Mun- 
fadda  (Long  Mane)  and  Raylteen  Gal  (Little 
White  Star)  were  their  names.  They  were  pale 
yellow  in  hue,  save  that  on  the  breast  of  one, 
where  the  wind-pipe  enters  the  lungs,  was  a 
spot  of  purest  white.  For  two  hundred  cumals 
he  had  purchased  them,  and  he  gave  them  to 
Emer.  With  her  own  hands  each  day  she  used 
to  feed  them  with  barley  and  white  curds  and 
sweet  whey.  Very  gentle  were  they,  and  knew 
the  thoughts  of  those  who  loved  them. 

Then  a  milder  mood  possessed  him,  and  he 
remembered  his  friends  who  were  with  Meave, 
and  how  they  had  received  him  coming,  and  he 
recalled  the  firm  friendship  of  Lewy  Mac  Neesh 
and  Fergus  and  others,  and  especially  he  thought 
of  Fardia,  the  son  of  Daman,  now  warring, 
as  he  believed,  among  the  Clanna  Gaedil  in 
Espan,  and,  as  he  thought  on  these  things, 
lo,  the  dawn  trembling  through  the  forest,  and 
the  hoar  frost  glittering  on  the  grass. 

Then  stared  forth  Cuculain,  and  he  drew  from 
the  chariot  the  venison  which  he  had  cooked,  and 


A   SUNDERED  FRIENDSHIP  137 

ate  thereof,  and  drank  his  last  draught  of  ale, 
making  a  gurgle  in  his  strong  bare  throat,  and 
his  strength  revived  in  him.  Nevertheless,  his 
countenance  was  hollow  and  wan,  dull  were  his 
splendid  eyes,  and  there  was  a  wound  in  his 
hand  and  in  his  leg,  and  a  great  one  in  his  left 
side,  and  his  breast  was  mangled,  and  all  his 
body  black  with  dried  gore. 

Then  he  tore  away  the  steel  work  and  bronze 
work  from  his  chariot,  and  filled  therewith  the 
broken  centre  and  upper  rim  of  his  shield,  strap- 
ping it  tightly  with  the  leathern  reins,  and  with 
the  colg  that  was  by  his  side  he  hewed  down  a 
straight  fir  tree,  and  shore  away  the  crackling 
branches,  and  cut  off  the  top.  After  this  he 
brake  off  the  steel  peak  of  the  chariot,  and  sunk 
it  into  the  rough  spear-tree,  and  bound  it  firmly 
to  the  wood.  Then  arose  Cuculain,  the  un- 
conquerable, striding  through  the  forest,  and  he 
wondered  which  of  the  great  champions  of  Meave 
should  be  brought  against  him  that  day  ;  and 
when  he  came  out  into  the  open  he  beheld  the 
whole  south  country  filled  with  a  vast  multitude 
as  if  it  had  been  the  jEnech  of  Tailteen  or  the 
great  Feis  of  Tara  when  the  authority  of  the 
Ard-Ri  is  supreme,  and  all  the  tribes  of  Erin 
gather  together  with  their  kings.  He  saw  not 


138  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

at  first  who  was  the  champion  that  had  come 
out  against  him,  as  he  came  along  down  stream 
through  the  tasselled  willows.  Then  he  stood 
on  the  edge  of  the  ford,  and  looked  across,  and 
he  saw  Fardia,  son  of  Daman,  of  the  Firbolgs, 
and  Fardia  looked  upon  Cuculain,  and  Cuculain 
looked  upon  Fardia. 

Then  Cuculain  blushed,  and  his  neck  and  face 
above,  and  his  temples  waxed  fiery  red,  and  then 
again,  paler  than  the  white  flower  of  the  thorn, 
and  his  jaws  fell,  and  he  stood  like  one  stupefied  ; 
but  Fardia  held  his  shield  unmoved,  with  his 
spears  resting  on  the  ground,  and  beneath  the 
heavy  cath-barr  his  brows  stronger  than  brass. 

Cuculain  sent  forth  a  voice  hoarse  and  untuned 
and  said  : — 

"Is  it  Fardia  Mac  Daman  of  the  Firbolgs, 
for  there  is  a  mist  before  my  eyes  ?  " 

But  Fardia  answered  not. 

Then  said  Cuculain  : — 

"  Art  thou  come  out  to  meet  me  in  arms  to- 
day, seeking  to  slay  me  ?  " 

And  Fardia  answered  sternly  : — 

"  Go  back,  O  Cuculain,  to  thy  own  people, 
and  cease  to  bar  the  gates  of  the  North  against 
our  host,  and  I  shall  not  slay  thee  or  dishonour 
thee,,  but  if  thou  remainest  I  shall  slay  thee  here 


A  SUNDERED  FRIENDSHIP  139 

at  the  ford.    Therefore,  I  bid  thee  go  back  into 
the  province." 

Cuculain  answered  him,  and  his  voice  became 
like  the  voice  of  a  young  girl,  or  the  accents  of 
one  seeking  an  alms. 

"  And  is  it  thou  alone  of  all  this  great  host 
that  hast  come  out  against  thy  friend,  seeking 
to  slay  me  or  dishonour  me  ?  There  are  the 
battle  standards  of  all  the  warrior  tribes  of  Erin, 
save  only  of  the  Ultonians,  the  banners  of  the 
children  of  Ith  and  Heber,  all  the  far-spreading 
clans  of  Heremon,  the  children  of  Amargin  and 
Brega,  of  Bonn  and  Biela,  and  the  Desie  of 
Temair ;  there  are  the  warlike  clans  of  the  Fomo- 
roh  and  the  remnant  of  the  people  of  Partholan, 
the  Clanna  Nemedh  from  the  great  harbour 
southwards,  the  children  of  Orba,  the  Ernai, 
and  the  Osree,  the  Gamaradians,  and  the  Clan 
Dega.  Could  no  champion  be  sought  out  of 
the  great  host  that  covers  the  green  plains  of 
Conaul  Murthemney,  to  the  limits  of  the  furthest 
hills,  to  come  out  against  me,  but  that  thou 
alone  should  stand  forth  against  thy  friend  ? 
Persist  not,  O  son  of  Daman,  but  retire,  and 
I  will  meet  three  champions  instead  of  one  from 
this  day  forward.  We  parted  with  mutual 
gifts  and  with  tears,  why  does  thy  spear  now 


140  IN    THE   GATES    OF   THE    NOETH 

thirst  after  my  blood,  and  why  dost  thou  seek 
to  dishonour  me  ?  " 

And  Fardia  made  answer  : — 

"  Other  champions,  by  their  prowess,  bear 
away  many  gifts,  why  should  I  ever  have  my 
hands  empty  ?  Bright  as  the  sun  is  the  brooch 
of  Meave,  which  she  has  given  me,  the  Royal 
Brooch  of  Cruhane,  emblem  of  sovereignty 
among  the  Gael.  Gems  glitter  along  the  rim. 
Like  a  level  sunbeam  in  the  forest  is  the  shining 
delg  of  it.  I  shall  have  honour  while  I  live, 
and  my  clan  after  me  shall  be  glorious  to  the 
end  of  time.  Therefore,  prepare  for  battle, 
son  of  Sualtam.  I  remember  thee  not  at  all, 
or  as  one  whom  years  since  I  met,  and  straight 
again  forgot.  Therefore,  prepare  thyself  for 
battle,  or  I  shall  slay  thee  off  thy  guard." 

And  Cuculain  said  : — 

"  O  Fardia,  I  believe  thee  not.  Full  well  dost 
thou  remember.  Beneath  the  same  rug  we  slept, 
and  sat  together  at  the  feast,  and  side  by  side  we 
went  into  the  red  battle.  Together  we  consumed 
cities,  and  drave  away  captives.  Together  we 
practised  feats  of  arms  before  the  warrior 
queen,  grieving  when  either  got  hurt.  Together 
we  kept  back  the  streaming  foe  in  the 
day  of  disaster,  when  the  battle  torrent  roared 


A   SUNDERED   FRIENDSHIP  14! 

over  us,  either  guarding  the  other  more  than 
himself." 

Then  beneath  his  lowering  brows  the  hot 
tears  burst  forth  from  the  eyes  of  the  son  of 
Daman,  and  fell  continuously  from  his  beard, 
and  he  answered  with  a  voice  most  stern,  but 
that  held  within  it  a  piteous  tone,  like  a  vessel 
in  which  the  careless  eye  sees  not  the  hidden 
flaw,  but  at  a  touch,  lo  !  it  is  broken.  So 
sounded  the  stern  voice  of  the  warrior. 

"  Go  back  now,  O  Cuculain,  to  thy  pleasant 
dun — Dun  Dalgan  by  the  sea.  Go  back  now, 
for  I  would  not  slay  thee,  and  rule  over  Mur- 
themney  and  the  rough  headland  of  thy  sires, 
and  Meave  will  not  waste  thy  territory  or  injure 
aught  that  is  thine.  And  care  no  more  for  the 
Red  Branch,  for  they  have  forsaken  thee,  and 
given  thee  over  to  destruction,  who  have  con- 
spired against  thee,  trusting  in  thy  great  heart 
that  thou  wouldst  be  slain  on  the  marches  of  the 
province,  holding  the  gates  of  the  North  against 
their  foes,  for  Hound  is  thy  name  and  Royal 
Hound  thy  nature.  Therefore  go  back,  O  Cucu- 
lain, and  save  thy  young  life  ;  return  now  to 
thy  infant  son  and  thy  sweet  bride.  Go  back,  O 
Cuculain,  for  sweet  is  life,  the  life  of  the  warrior,  and 
very  dark  and  sorrowful  and  empty  is  the  grave." 


142  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

"  I  will  not  go  back,  O  Fardia,  but  here  on  the 
marches,  while  there  is  blood  in  my  veins,  and 
while  reason,  like  a  king  rebelled  against  but 
unsubdued,  holds  the  sovereignty  of  my  mind, 
I  will  contest  the  borders  of  my  nation,  though 
forsaken  and  alone.  My  people  have  indeed 
abandoned  me  and  conspired  for  my  destruction  ; 
but  there  is  no  power  in  Erin  to  dissolve  my 
knightship  to  the  son  of  Nessa  and  my  kinship 
with  the  Crave  Rue.  Though  they  hate  me, 
yet  cannot  I  expel  this  love  out  of  my  heart. 
And  not  the  kings  alone  and  the  might  of  the 
Red  Branch,  but  the  women,  and  the  young 
children  of  Ulla  are  under  my  protection,  and 
all  the  unwarlike  tribes,  and  the  cattle,  and  this 
the  sacred  soil  of  Ulla  upon  which  I  stand.  And 
this  too  well  I  know,  that  no  power  in  the  earth 
or  in  the  air  can  keep  the  Red  Branch  my  foe 
for  ever,  and  that  loud  and  deep  will  be  their 
sorrow  when  the  red  pyre  flames  beneath  me. 
And  seek  not  to  terrify  me  with  death,  O  son  of 
Daman  :  of  yore,  too,  our  minds  did  not  agree  ; 
for  dark  and  sorrowful  death  is  not,  but  a  passage 
to  the  land  of  the  ever  young,  the  Tir-na-n-ogue. 
There  shall  I  see  the  Danaan  princes  face  to 
face,  and  there  the  heroic  sons  of  Milith,  and 
himself,  a  mighty  shade,  and  there  all  the 


A   SUNDERED   FRIENDSHIP  143 

noblest  of  the  earth.  There  hatred  and  scorn 
are  not  known,  nor  the  rupturing  of  friendships, 
but  sweet  love  rules  over  all." 

"  Go  back,  O  Cuculain ;  go  back  now  again, 
for  I  would  not  slay  thee.  Think  no  more  of 
the  son  of  Nessa  and  the  Red  Branch,  than  whom 
the  race  of  Milith  had  produced  nought  fiercer 
or  more  baleful.  Rooted  out  and  cast  down 
shall  be  the  Red  Branch  in  this  foray,  whether 
thou,  O  Cuculain,  survivest  or  art  slain.  Go 
back,  O  son  of  Sualtam,  return  to  thy  own  dun. 
Once  indeed  thou  wast  obedient  to  me  and 
served  me,  and  polished  my  armour,  and  tied  up 
my  spears  submissive  to  my  commands.  There- 
fore go  back  ;  add  not  thy  blood  to  the  bloody 
stream." 

"  Revilest  thou  my  nation,  O  son  of  Daman. 
Talk  no  more  now,  but  prepare  thyself  for  battle 
and  for  death.  I  will  not  obey  thee  or  retire 
before  thee,  nor  shalt  thou  at  all  dishonour  me 
as  thou  hast  most  foully  dishonoured  thyself. 
This  indeed  I  well  know,  that  I  shall  be 
slain  at  the  ford  when  my  strength  has  passed 
away,  or  my  mind  is  overthrown  ;  but  by  thee, 
O  son  of  Daman,  I  shall  not  meet  my  death. 
Once  indeed  I  was  obedient  to  thee,  because  I 
was  younger  than  thee.  Therefore  was  I  then 


144  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

a  servant  unto  thee,  but  not  now  ;  and  which  of 
us  twain  shall  die  I  know,  and  it  is  thou,  O 
Fardia." 

Thereafter  then  they  fought,  and  Cuculain 
had  no  weapon  save  only  his  colg,  for  the  Gae 
Bolg,  the  rude  spear  which  he  had  fashioned,  had 
fallen  from  his  hands.  Against  him  Fardia 
discharged  his  javelins  at  the  same  time,  for  he 
was  ambidexter,  and  quick  as  lightning-  Cucu- 
lain avoided  them,  and  they  stuck  trembling 
in  the  thither  bank,  and  quick  to  right  and  left 
Cuculain  severed  the  leathern  thongs,  rushing 
forward.  Then  drew  Fardia  his  mighty  sword 
that  made  a  flaming  crescent  as  it  flashed  most 
bright  and  terrible,  and  rushed  headlong  upon 
Cuculain,  and  they  met"  in  the  midst  of  the  ford. 
Straightway  there  arose  a  spray  and  a  mist  from 
the  trampling  of  the  heroes,  and  through  the 
mist  their  forms  moved  hugely,  like  two  giants 
of  the  Fomoroh  contending  in  a  storm.  The 
war-demons,  too,  contended  around  them  fight- 
ing, the  Bocanahs  and  Bananahs,  the  wild  people 
of  the  glens  and  the  demons  of  the  air,  and 
screeched  in  the  screeching  on  the  armour,  in  the 
clash  of  the  shields,  and  the  clatter  of  land  and 
meeting  colg.  Now  the  warriors  of  Meave 
grew  pale,  and  the  war-steeds  brake  loose  and 


A   SUNDEEED   FRIENDSHIP  145 

flew  through  the  plain  with  the  war-cars,  and  the 
women  and  camp-followers  brake  forth  south- 
westward  and  fled,  and  the  upper  water  of  the 
divine  stream  gathered  together  for  fear,  and 
reared  itself  aloft  like  a  steed  that  had  seen  a 
spectre,  with  jags  of  torn  water  and  tossing  foam. 
Cuculain  was  red  all  over,  like  a  garment  raised 
out  of  the  dyeing-vat,  and  Fardia's  great  sword 
made  havoc  in  his  unarmoured  flesh.  Three 
times  Cuculain  closed  with  the  Firbolg,  seeking 
to  get  within  the  ponderous  shield,  and  three 
times  the  son  of  Daman  cast  him  off,  as  the  cliffs 
of  Eyrus  cast  off  a  foaming  billow  of  the  great 
sea  ;  but  when  the  fourth  time  he  was  rushing 
on  like  a  storm,  he  heard,  as  it  were,  the  voice  of 
Laeg,  the  son  of  the  King  of  Gabra,  his  attendant 
and  charioteer,  taunting  and  insulting  him,  and 
himself  he  saw  in  a  vision  standing  in  the  river 
ford  on  the  left,  for  he  was  accustomed  to 
revile  Cuculain.  Yet  this  time,  too,  the  Firbolg 
cast  him  off,  and  advanced  upon  Cuculain 
to  slay  him.  Then  stepped  back  Cuculain 
quickly,  and  the  men  of  Meave  shouted,  for 
Cuculain's  shield  was  falling  in  pieces.  But 
again  sprang  forward  the  Hound  of  Ulla,  stoop- 
ing, with  the  Gae  Bolg  in  his  hand,  using  it  like 
a  spearman  in  the  battle,  and  he  drave  Fardia 

L 


146  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

through  the  ford  and  up  on  the  hither  bank, 
pressing  mightily  against  the  shield.  When  the 
Firbolgs  saw  what  was  done  they  feared  greatly 
for  their  champion  ;  they  raised  a  sudden  howl 
of  lamentation  and  rage,  and  rushed  forward, 
breaking  through  the  guards :  which,  when, 
Fergus  Mac  Roy  beheld,  he  sprang  down  from 
his  chariot,  shouting  dreadfully,  and  put  his 
hand  into  the  hollow  of  his  shield,  and  took  out 
his  battle-stone,  and  smote  Imchall,  the  son 
of  Dega,  with  the  battle-stone  upon  the  head, 
and  he  fell  rushing  forward  amongst  the  first. 
Now,  too,  Cormac  Conlingas  and  Maine  Lamgarf 
ran  thither  with  the  Queen's  spearsmen  restrain- 
ing the  Firbolgs. 

But,  meantime,  Cuculain,  lifted  suddenly  the 
Gae  Bolg  above  his  head,  and  plunged  it  into 
Fardia.  It  passed  through  the  upper  rim  of 
the  brazen  shield,  and  through  the  strong  bones 
of  his  breast  beneath  his  beard,  and  he  fell 
backward  with  a  crash,  and  grasped  with  out- 
stretched hands  at  the  ground,  and  his  spirit 
went  out  of  him,  and  he  died. 

Cuculain  plucked  out  the  spear,  and  stood 
above  him,  panting,  as  a  hound  pants  returning 
from  the  chase,  and  the  war-demons  passed  out 
of  him,  and  he  looked  upon  Fardia,  and  a  great 


A   SUNDERED  FRIENDSHIP  147 

sorrow  overwhelmed  him,  and  he  lamented  and 
moaned  over  Fardia,  joining  his  voice  to  the 
howl  of  the  Firbolgs,  the  great-hearted  children 
of  Mac  Eric,  and  he  took  off  the  cath-barr  from 
the  head  of  Fardia,  and  unwound  his  yellow  hair, 
tress  after  bright  tress,  most  beautiful,  shedding 
many  tears,  and  he  opened  the  battle-dress  and 
took  out  the  Queen's  brooch — that  for  which 
his  friend  as  he  deemed  had  come  to  slay  him 
— and  he  cursed  the  lifeless  metal,  and  cast  it 
from  him  into  the  air,  southwards  over  the  host, 
and  men  saw  it  no  more. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
LAEG 

I  am  Laeg,  son  of  Gabra's  king, 
It  was  I  who  guided  his  horses. 

AT  Emain  Macha,  in  the  clear  dawning  of  the 
day,  Laeg,  son  of  Gabra's  king,  lay  in  his  bed, 
still  as  a  felled  tree.  Lacking  something — he 
knew  not  what,  his  grey,  bright  eyes  were  wild. 
Though  the  door  was  shut,  an  ice-cold  blast 
blew  upon  the  charioteer ;  he  gathered  his  rug 
around  him,  yet  was  not  the  warmer.  Then, 
through  a  vanishing  mist,  Laeg  saw  clearly  a 
young  man,  alone,  knee-deep  in  a  river-ford, 
who  leaned  with  both  hands  upon  a  spear,  and 
vomited  blood  into  the  running  river.  His 
raiment  was  in  rags,  his  body  bruised,  torn, 
and  cut ;  the  great  hands  above  his  bowed  head 
were  hacked  on  the  back,  and  himself  stained 
with  blood  and  gore.  Laeg  sprang  from  his 

148 


LAEG  149 

couch  with  a  cry,  and  stood  dazed  and  quaking, 
for  this  man  who  he  had  seen  in  the  ford  was  his 
dear  master ;  and  it  was  taught  to  him  at  the 
self-same  moment  that  Cuculain,  son  of  Sualtam, 
alone  upon  the  frontiers,  held  back  the  Four 
Provinces  of  Erin,  friendless,  solitary,  guarding 
the  marches  of  Ultonia,  and  that  his  strength 
was  failing,  and  the  mighty  cordage  of  his  great 
heart  was  yielding  to  the  strain,  while  the  war- 
waves  ever  beat  upon  him,  implacable,  un- 
ceasing, ever  renewed,  and  famine  assailed  him 
and  the  loneliness  and  horror  of  extreme  iso- 
lation closed  around  him  : — 

Alone  in  defence  of  the  THtonians, 
Solitary  keeping  guard  over  the  Province. 

Then  he  heard  the  very  bitter  cry  of  Dethcaen's 
nursling,  Sualtam's  son,  his  own  dear  school- 
fellow and  loving  friend  and  master. 

Forthwith  all  his  mind  came  back  to  him,  and 
in  the  royal  stables  he  heard  the  steeds  of 
Cuculain  neighing,  and  stamping,  and  pulling 
madly  at  their  halters,  and  in  the  chariot-house 
the  muttering  of  the  war-demons,  and  in  the 
Tec  Brae  the  ocean-murmur  of  the  shield  of 
Concobar,  and  far  away  the  Tonn  Rury  moaning 
responsive  in  the  north ;  also  round  and  over 


150  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

and  under  all  these  sounds  he  heard  the  noise 
of  a  great  lamentation,  even  the  women  of  the 
Ultonians  wailing,  and  the  young  children,  the 
immature  and  unwarlike  scions  of  the  Red 
Branch,  weeping  for  extreme  shame  and  crying 
aloud  to  their  unconscious  sires.  Like  a  storm 
Laeg  burst  into  the  great  dormitory  of  the  stand- 
ing-battalion of  Emain  Macha,  and  from  the 
threshold  cried  with  a  loud  voice  ;  '  Up,  out, 
and  follow  now,  on  the  instant,  if  you  are  men, 
to  the  ford  of  the  Avon  Dia,  Murthemney's 
narrow  mearing,  where,  alone,  Cuculain  holds 
back  the  Four  Provinces  !  " 

At  that  unusual  clamour  seven  hundred  giant 
forms  reared  themselves  throughout  the  vast 
chamber,  and  leaning  upon  their  pillows,  gazed 
in  silence  at  the  speaker,  with  eyes  of  mild 
wonder — and  again  subsided — sighing  deeply, 
for  the  curse  of  the  Red-Maned  Macha  lay  like 
lead  upon  their  souls. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  chamber  one  mighty 
form  reared  himself  to  sitting,  a  bearded  cham- 
pion, with  eyes  and  an  aspect  of  great  authority  : 
"  Nay,"  said  he,  "  son  of  Gabra's  king,  there  is 
a  time  for  all  things  and  a  befitting  occasion." 
The  man  was  Concobar,  son  of  Factna,  son  of 
Cas,  son  of  Rury,  Captain  of  the  Red  Branch, 


LAEQ  151 

and  High  King  of  the  Ultonians.  He,  too,  sank 
down  like  the  rest,  and  was  still. 

Laeg  sprang  thrice  on  the  threshold  and  cursed 
them  by  all  his  gods. 

To  the  chariot-house  and  stables  of  Macha 
then  he  ran  and  rushed  forth  the  chariot,  blazing, 
into  the  light  of  day,  and  returning,  loosed  the 
great  steeds.  Neighing  terribly,  they  hastened 
to  their  accustomed  places  on  either  side  of  the 
long  chariot-pole  of  red-yew  shod  with  silver, 
the  Liath  Macha  on  the  right  and  Black  Shan- 
glan  on  the  left,  and  stood  there  trembling  and 
stooped,  with  shaken  manes  and  wild  eyes.  To 
the  Tec  Brae  then  he  ran,  and  returned  swiftly, 
laden  with  Cuculain's  shining  war-gear  and 
martial  equipment.  Deftly  and  quickly  the 
son  of  Gabra's  king  made  them  fast  and  secure 
in  their  places  in  the  war-car,  and  he  yoked  the 
horses,  and  seized  his  scourge.  He  cried  to 
them  to  go,  and  lashed  the  divine  horses,  and  they 
went.  Like  rattling  thunder  the  brazen  wheels 
sounded  through  the  block-paved  streets  of 
Emain  Macha.  As  when  in  a  city  in  the  night 
there  is  a  cry  of  fire,  and  straightway  with  the 
sound  of  the  horn  and  thunder  of  wheels  and 
steel-shod  hoofs  the  rushing  steeds  bear  onward 
through  dark  streets  the  fire-subduers,  and 


152  IN   THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

sparks  fly  out  on  every  side  from  the  smitten 
flint,  so  Laeg,  son  of  Riangabra,  drave  through 
the  city  of  Emain  Macha,  while  the  people  fled  ; 
terribly  Laeg  shouted,  and  terribly  the  Tuatha 
De  Danan,  themselves  unseen,  shouted  around 
him  in  the  air.  So  shouting,  Laeg  rushed  under 
the  echoing  gates  and  across  the  sounding  bridge, 
and  swept  over  the  Plain  of  the  Hostings,  and 
the  noble  steeds  themselves  flew  along,  nor 
needed  at  all  the  scourge  of  the  charioteer,  which, 
nevertheless,  the  son  of  Riangabra  laid  furiously 
upon  their  foaming  sides,  leaning  forward  in  the 
war-car  animating  them  with  his  cries.  And  so 
drave  Laeg,  as  though  upon  the  smooth  plains 
of  Tailteen  he  contended  with  the  youths  of 
Erin  about  a  prize  in  the  chariot  race.  But 
not  now  for  brazen  cauldrons  contended  Laeg, 
or  for  bright  weapons,  or  for  gold,  but  for  the 
life  of  his  master  and  dear  friend,  the  blameless 
Cuculain. 

Over  every  territory  through  which  he  flew, 
far  and  wide,  penetrated  the  brazen  din,  for 
around  him  there  arose  the  many-sounding  musi- 
cal tumult  of  bells  that  rang,  and  brazen  traces 
that  clanked,  and  the  noise  of  shaken  shields 
and  rattling  spears,  of  javelins,  swords,  and 
sling-bolts,  and  battle-hammers,  and  defensive 


LAEG 


153 


armour,  even  the  whole  martial  equipment  of 
Cuculain,  and  the  wheels  brayed  upon  the  block 
paved  roads,  and  the  clamour  of  the  unseen 
ones  increased,  endlessly  shouting  around  the 
son  of  Riangabra.  But  Laeg  thought  only  of 
his  master,  and  of  that  most  precious  life  some- 
where in  jeopardy,  and  the  cry  of  Cuculain  ever 
sounded  in  his  ears. 

So  all  day  long  the  chariot  brayed  along  the 
stony  ways  or  raced  across  the  smooth  plains. 
For  where  the  land  was  tilled  and  enclosed,  and 
the  homesteads  of  men  abounded,  and  their 
labours,  there  indeed  were  roads  ;  but  oftentimes 
he  traversed  wide  territories  where  was  no  chariot- 
track  and  no  sign-post  save  the  distant  hills, 
nor  fences,  nor  tillers  of  the  soil ;  only  great 
herds  of  cattle  feeding,  and  slaves  on  horseback 
who  guarded  them,  and  drave  them  this  way  and 
that.  These  indeed,  with  their  dumb  care,  looked 
up  astonished  when  they  heard  the  distant  din, 
for,  like  the  ringing  of  many  swathes  of  iron  rods, 
car-borne  on  lonely  ways  in  the  still  night,  was 
the  ringing  of  Cuculain's  warlike  equipment 
about  Laeg  as  he  swiftly  traversed  Ulla's  plains. 

Across  the  Calan  he  rushed,  while  the  foaming 
spray  flew  high  above  the  trampling  steeds,  and 
along  the  reedy  shores  of  Muckno,  where,  in  the 


154  IN   THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

oak-groves,  herds  of  many  swine  under  their 
keepers,  battened  on  the  root  of  the  wild  parsnip. 
Between  the  echoing  woods  and  the  gleaming 
lake,  in  sunshine  and  shadow,  Laeg  thundered. 
Out  on  the  quiet  mere,  fishermen  let  fall  their 
half-drawn  nets  and  sprang  to  their  oars  at  the 
noise  of  his  journeying. 

One  moment  on  the  crest  of  the  Boar's  Ridge 
Laeg  mightily  restrained  his  rearing  steeds,  stand- 
ing erect  in  the  car,  with  wide-dispread  feet, 
while  with  eagle-bright  eyes  he  scanned  the 
horizon  round. 

Far  away  on  the  left  glittered  the  White  Cairn 
of  Slieve  Fuad ;  far  away  in  front  the  plains 
of  Murthemney  rolled  green  to  the  Ictian  sea. 
Eastward,  too,  Laeg  saw  the  dark  highland  of 
Fochaine  and — like  a  silver  thread — the  bright 
way  where,  from  his  fountains,  Avon-Dia  sought 
the  sea.  Out  of  the  cloudless  west  the  hot  sun 
watched  him.  Sabh  loldana,  thou  wert  there  ! 
The  shadows  of  the  gigantic  steeds  stretched 
wavering  down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Droum. 
Upon  the  chain-reins  now  he  relaxed  his  great 
hands  and  loosed  the  rearing  and  reluctant 
steeds,  then  thundered  down  the  flank  of 
Droum-na-Torc. 

With  the  sinking  sun  Laeg  saw  that  Shanglan 


LAEQ  155 

laboured  as  he  went ;  and  no  longer,  indeed, 
would  anyone  call  him  raven-black,  for  he  was 
covered  with  white  foam,  and  Laeg  himself  and 
the  chariot  were  bespattered  all  over  with  the 
flakes  which  flew  from  his  eager  lips  like  snow. 
But  the  Liath  Macha  led  on  untired,  and  no  one 
observing  would  say  that  he  touched  the 
ground  ;  noble  still  was  his  action  and  immense 
his  stride  and  unwet  his  white  flanks. 

Laeg  sprang  from  the  chariot,  and,  holding 
the  scourge  between  his  teeth,  he  eased  the 
yoke-strap  around  the  neck  of  Black  Shanglan 
and  the  jaw-strap  of  the  head-stall,  and  leaped 
back,  bounding  lightly  over  the  rim,  and  gave 
them  rein  once  more. 

But  now  again  the  son  of  Riangabra  groaned 
aloud  and  wrung  his  unavailing  hands,  for  no 
longer  did  Black  Shanglan  travel  unhurt,  but 
stooped  with  every  stride,  for  the  fierce  pace 
had  injured  his  tender  hoofs,  unshod,  for  war- 
steeds  were  the  steeds  of  Cuculain,  and  wide, 
smooth  plains  was  their  place.  Moreover,  the 
chariot,  too,  was  injured,  not  designed  by  the 
builder  for  such  an  usage,  and  against  many 
a  rock  and  stone  had  Laeg  dashed  the  wheels 
that  day  in  his  wild  career.  Then  restrained  he 
the  steeds ;  it  was  evening  and  the  gloaming 


156  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

of  the  day.  As  Laeg  looked  round  he  rejoiced, 
for  not  many  roods  in  front  there  stood,  as  he 
deemed,  the  house  of  a  noble.  As  he  drew  nigh, 
he  recognised  the  person  of  the  master,  Cael- 
shanig  ;  a  northern  kinsman,  he  of  Cailitin,  the 
mighty  mage  and  enchanter  of  the  East.  His 
life  at  one  time  had  been  saved  out  of  com- 
passion by  Cuculain.  With  him  Laeg  said  that 
he  would  rest  his  wounded  steed  and  repair 
the  shaken  war-car. 

For  while  Cuculain  was  yet  a  boy  at  Dun 
Dalgan,  bearing  still  his  first  name,  Setanta, 
a  galley  which  was  accustomed  to  ply  across  the 
Muirnict  to  Mcena  Coning  of  the  Britons  returned 
towing  behind  a  sorry  wight,  whom  the  crew  had 
found  in  mid-channel,  strapped  down  with 
strong  ropes  upon  fir-trees  joined  together  raft- 
wise  ;  and  they  saw  in  him  a  wretch  for  whose 
crimes  the  laws  of  the  Gael  did  not  suffer  an  eric 
to  be  accepted,  but  he  was  cast  forth  to  the 
mercy  of  the  waves  as  an  evil  and  pernicious 
thing.  Nevertheless,  the  boy  Setanta  had  pity 
on  him,  because  for  three  days  and  nights  he 
had  been  tossed  to  and  fro  upon  the  currents  of 
the  Moyle  and  the  Muirnict.  With  his  own 
hands  he  chafed  his  wasted  limbs  and  gave  him 
restoring  draughts,  there  on  the  rude  pier  where 


LAEQ  157 

the  ships  were  wont  to  discharge  their  lading. 

Now,  according  to  the  Fenechas,  he  to  whose 
land  such  waifs  might  be  borne  in  ships  or  by 
the  sea  was  permitted  to  receive  them  into 
slavery,  but  Dectera  did  not  think  good  to  receive 
amongst  her  people  a  wretch  cast  forth  out  of 
his  own  country  for  some  great  crime,  and  she 
ordered  her  servants  to  return  him  to  the  waves 
of  the  Muirnict. 

But  the  same  night  Setanta  and  Laeg  with- 
drew the  man  and  bore  him  outside  the  tuath. 
He  was  yet  speechless,  and  his  body  blue  and 
green  from  the  strain  of  the  ropes. 

In  the  morning  the  boys  came  to  the  house  of 
Brigamba,  who  excelled  all  the  women  of  her 
time  in  wisdom  and  understanding :  one  of  the 
seven  noble  women  of  the  Gael.  She  was  a 
judge  and  a  counsellor  amongst  the  Ul- 
tonians.  To  her  care,  then,  the  boys  com- 
mitted the  miserable  wight.  So  they  returned 
rejoicing  to  Dun  Dalgan,  and  endured  the  wrath 
of  the  daughter  of  Nessa. 


CHAPTER  XV 

A    PIONEER 

I  can  make  what  merchandize  I  will, 
I  stand  here  for  the  law. 

SHAKESPEARE. 

THIS,  then,  was  he  to  whose  house  Laeg  ap- 
proached, leading  his  wounded  steed  and  shat- 
tered war-car ;  and  Laeg  marvelled  when  he  saw 
the  house,  for  it  was  well  built  and  spacious,  and 
other  houses  were  around  it  for  cattle  and  sheep 
and  a  strong  bawn  of  earth  and  stone  enclosed 
the  whole.  Moreover,  he  heard  the  hum  of 
many  querns  and  the  clatter  of  hammers,  and 
the  cheerful  noise  of  carpenters  at  their  work. 
Also  he  saw  where  upon  the  hedges  they  had 
spread  garments  recently  dyed,  and  he  saw 
into  the  dye-house  itself  on  the  left  side  of  the 
road,  but  the  main  house  stood  on  the  other. 
Hard  by  there  were  trim  fences  and  young  fruit- 
trees  in  enclosed  plots,  and  all  around  the  plain 
was  strewn  with  fudir  houses,  and  of  bodacs, 

158 


A  PIONEER  159 

but  beyond  was  only  untilled  ground  and  forest. 

And  Laeg  saw  the  master  where  he  stood  upon 
a  fence  by  the  roadside,  beyond  the  house,  and 
overlooked  those  who  laboured  beneath  him  in 
the  field,  lifting  up  a  very  fierce  voice  when  any 
slackened  in  his  labour.  Laeg  marvelled  at  this, 
seeing  that  the  sun  was  already  set. 

Laeg  drew  nigh  to  the  man,  and,  saluting  him 
courteously,  told  how  he  journeyed  to  the  relief 
of  Cuculain,  son  of  Sualtam,  on  the  southern 
marches,  and  how  he  desired  rest  and  food  for 
his  steeds  and  for  himself,  and  the  assistance  of 
metal-workers  to  repair  the  chariot ;  but  re- 
called not  that  matter  of  the  Muirnict. 

The  man  eyed  Laeg  narrowly,  and  moved 
towards  the  house  meditating.  Then  said  he : 

"  Why  comest  thou  to  me,  O  youth  ?  I  am 
not  the  bru-fir  of  the  tuath,  nor  supplied  with 
territory  and  tributes,  with  servants  and  house- 
room  for  the  entertainment  of  travellers.  That 
duty  is  his,  and  not  many  miles  to  the  south 
and  east  is  his  house,  where  thou  mayest  freely 
demand  entertainment  for  thy  beasts  and  for 
thyself,  and  the  assistance  of  his  workers  in 
metal.  It  was  not  by  the  lavish  entertainment 
of  those  who  passed  by  this  way  that  I  have 
become  rich  and  great  as  thou  now  seest  me,  but 


l6o         IN  THE  GATES  OF  THE  NORTH 

by  prudence  and  attention  to  my  several  affairs. 
If  I  supply  thee  and  thine  with  entertainment 
and  the  labour  of  my  slaves,  look  to  it,  I  shall 
require  a  fit  recompense  !  " 

Thereat  the  generous  heart  of  Laeg  was  greatly 
enraged,  and  he  answered  : 

"  A  suitable  reward  thou  shalt  most  assuredly 
receive,  but  bid  now  straightway  a  keeve  of 
water  to  be  prepared,  that  I  may  wash  my 
steeds  and  my  chariot,  and  see,  too,  that  there 
is  provender  in  the  stable.  Also  provide  a  place 
for  myself  to  rest  in,  and  food,  and,  look  you, 
tarry  not." 

"  Not  yet,  O  son  of  Riangabra,"  answered  the 
other,  "  but  first  thou  shalt  leave  with  me  a 
pledge  out  of  the  rich  armour  and  weapons  which 
thou  hast  with  thee  in  the  car." 

"  The  armour  and  the  weapons  are  the  warlike 
equipments  of  Cuculain,  who  is  now  in  great 
jeopardy,  and  I  hasten  to  his  assistance.  I 
cannot  give  to  thee  a  pledge,  but  this  I  surely 
promise,  that  an  abundant  reward  shall  be  thine 
for  thy  entertainment,  if  upon  this  so  keenly 
hast  thou  set  thy  thoughts.  Therefore,  tarry 
not  any  longer,  O  bodach,  but  give  instant 
orders  to  thy  people,  for  my  horses  chill  in  the 
frosty  air." 


A   PIONEER  l6l 

So  saying,  Laeg  stooped  down  and  very  atten- 
tively examined  the  hoofs  of  Black  Shanglan, 
and  afterwards  the  war-car  in  every  part,  pay- 
ing no  further  heed  to  the  man,  who  nevertheless 
talked  continuously. 

"  Not  by  trusting  in  promises,  O  youth,"  said 
he,  "  have  I  become  what  thou  now  seest  me, 
but  by  compelling  the  performance  of  bonds 
contracted  rightfully,  according  to  the  law. 
For  when  I  reached  this  tuath,  having  been 
deported  out  of  thine  as  though  I  had  been 
smitten  with  the  plague,  I  was  first  indeed  the 
slave  of  Brigamba,  wise  and  subtle,  well  skilled 
in  the  Bretha  of  Erin,  both  Cain  law  and  Urdas, 
and  those  administered  by  the  bru-fir  in  his 
forus,  and  I  ushered  before  her  those  who  sought 
counsel,  and  listened  to  her  conversation  and  her 
judgments,  and  became  myself  well  skilled  in 
these  things.  Having  served  many  months 
with  much  humility  and  carefulness,  I  prevailed 
upon  her  to  give  me  portion  of  forest  land  upon 
the  borders  of  her  estate.  She  is  the  first  woman 
in  all  Erin  who  has  held  land  in  her  own  right. 
For  the  male  kindred  of  her  father  claimed  the 
land  against  the  disposition  of  the  old  man's, 
and  Brigamba  herself  pleaded  her  cause  before 
the  Ard-Brehon  of  the  Court  of  the  High  King 


l62  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

at  Emain  Macha,  and  she  prevailed  so  far  as  to 
retain  a  third  of  the  lands  of  her  father,  but 
two-thirds  went  to  the  male  kindred,  and  this  is 
now  the  law  amongst  the  Gael.  Thus  became 
Brigamba  a  lady  of  the  land,  a  fair  territory, 
extending  from  the  forus  of  the  bru-fir  to  the 
shores  of  the  Oun-Gledia,  southwards,  and  on 
the  forest  land  of  this  she  gave  me  taucra,  land, 
and  cows,  and  domestic  utensils.  Here  then  I 
built  me  a  small  sheeling,  and  grazed  my  cows, 
paying  yearly  the  stipulated  tribute,  sending 
curds  and  butter  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
household.  Moreover,  I  performed  other  tasks 
for  the  people  around  me,  hewing  timber,  and 
preparing  fuel,  and  tending  their  cattle  and  their 
swine,  and  I  gave  loans  for  hire,  and  prospered. 

"  All  this  time  I  was  the  slave  and  fudir  of 
Brigamba,  nor  was  I  suffered  to  appear  before  the 
brehon  of  the  tuath  with  my  own  complaints, 
but  was  represented  by  the  lady  of  the  soil, 
according  to  the  law,  and  many  times  justice 
failed  me,  for  she  desired  her  Maor  not  to  prefer 
my  complaints  before  the  brehon.  Moreover, 
of  all  that  I  recovered  a  share  went  to  her,  and 
I  was  baulked  in  my  rights.  Then,  too,  I  had 
no  part  or  lot  in  the  public  land  of  the  tuath. 

"  Thereupon,  with  consent  of  Brigamba,   I 


A   PIONEER  163 

took  me  three  other  fudirs  like  myself,  and  we 
entered  into  a  contract  joining  our  lands  and 
rights,  so  that,  being  thus  joined  together,  we 
became  collectively  free  and  entitled  to  all  the 
privileges  of  a  bo-aire,  to  elect  the  king,  to  en  joy 
participation  in  the  public  land,  and  to  have  full 
rights  before  the  brehon  and  the  bru-fir,  and  I 
was  chief  of  this  guild." 

"  Have  done,  O  bodach,"  cried  Laeg,  "  for 
time's  foot  will  not  rest  for  thy  talking,  and  my 
horses  chill." 

"  Nevertheless,  O  youth,  hearken  yet  for  a 
while."  As  he  spoke  he  stretched  forth  a  lean 
hand.  '  Then  I  purchased  the  rights  of  my 
fellow-guildsmen,  and  became  a  bo-aire  and 
freeholder  of  tuath  in  my  own  right,  and  pros- 
pered year  by  year,  rising  from  grade  to  grade, 
and  Brigamba  conferred  on  me  much  land,  for 
my  tributes  I  regularly  paid.  Also  it  is  within 
my  power  to  become  a  lord  in  the  tuath  were  I 
so  minded  ;  but  I  care  not  for  ostentation,  nor 
do  I  delight  in  the  companionship  of  the  haughty 
nobles,  but  I  attend  to  my  affairs,  and  give  the 
honour  which  is  due  to  the  blessed  Shee.  And 
now  thou  seest  me  as  I  am,  having  slaves, 
and  artificers,  and  many  bodacs  and  fudirs 
under  me,  whose  houses  and  cultivated  plots 


164  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

.thou  mayest  see  scattered  over  the  plain.  But 
since  I  entered  this  tuath  I  have  trusted  in  no 
promises  which  the  bretha  of  Erin  do  not  hold 
good,  nor  will  I  trust  in  thine,  O  son  of  Rian- 
gabra,  for  I  know  that  though  thou  sittest  at 
meat  amongst  the  kings,  at  the  table  of  Concobar 
Mac  Nessa,  yet  art  thou  a  no-man,  or  even  a 
slave  according  to  the  laws  of  Ulla,  and  thy 
promise  is  only  breath,  and  in  like  manner  have 
I  spoken  ere  this  to  those  who  are  greater  than 
thee.  Therefore  shalt  thou  give  me  a  pledge 
out  of  thy  possessions,  or  go  to  the  house  of  the 
bru-fir,  leading  gently  thy  wounded  steed,  for 
very  furious  and  reckless  I  doubt  not  has  been 
thy  driving.  Therefore  hie  thee  to  the  bru- 
fir." 

"  I  am  no  slave,  thou  base  churl,  but  a  king's 
son,  and  the  friend  and  attendant  of  the  mightiest 
and  noblest  of  the  Gael.  Methinks  broad  Ulla 
doth  not  contain  within  her  borders  one  viler 
than  thyself.  Verily  now  for  the  last  time  shalt 
thou  practise  avarice,  in  this  tuath,  which  thou 
has  dishonoured,  with  thy  exceeding  vileness ; 
for  the  noble  Celtcar,  the  son  of  Uther,  who  loves 
well  the  son  of  the  Sualtam,  and  myself  also, 
will  straightway  drive  thee  out  of  thy  posses- 
sions, who  by  marriage  with  the  good  and  wise 


A  PIONEER  165 

Brigamba,  is  lord  of  this  territory.  Soon,  with 
stripes  upon  thy  avaricious  shoulders,  thou  shalt 
carry  thy  vileness  and  thy  cunning  to  another 
place." 

Then  Caelshanig  laughed  lightly,  and  said  : 
"  Methinks,  O  youth,  that  thou  wast  reared 
amongst  the  Firbolgs  or  the  Fomoroh,  and  not 
amongst  the  people  of  Ulla,  for  whom  the  ollavs 
have  long  since  broken  the  violence  of  the  lords, 
and  their  cruel  exactions  and  oppressions.  Celt- 
car,  the  son  of  Uther,  is  indeed  lord  of  the  soil, 
and  a  flaut  in  this  tuath,  but  he  is  no  lord  of 
mine,  nor  do  I  owe  submission  and  servility  to 
any,  save  only  to  Brasal  Mac  Fiontann,  who  is 
the  king.  I  care  not  for  Celtcar,  the  son  of  Uther, 
nor  do  I  tremble  before  his  wrath,  though  well 
I  know  that  he  loves  me  not,  nor  doth  the  wise 
Brigamba,  though  she  extended  to  me  her  pro- 
tection and  support.  I  am  a  bo-aire  and  free- 
man of  this  tuath,  and  no  man  shall  hurt  me  or 
disturb  me  whose  power  does  not  extend  to  the 
destruction  of  the  ancient  laws  and  customs  of 
the  Gael.  I  am  no  fudir  or  base  tenant  of  the 
son  of  Uther.  My  tributes  and  services  are 
prescribed  by  the  Fenechas,  and  may  not  be 
increased.  For  every  bally  bo  of  the  land  that 
I  possess  there  proceeds  yearly  to  the  lord  the 


l66  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE   NOBTH 

value  of  a  cow,  with  a  three-year-old  ox  and 
three  in-calf  heifers,  with  their  feeding  for  a 
year,  and  not  only  may  he  not  require  more, 
but  I  myself  am  punishable  by  the  law  if  I 
slavishly,  or  for  any  other  reason,  consent.  My 
land  is  mine,  and  no  lord  shall  hurt  or  remove 
me.  Verily  ere  this  have  I  seen  the  grasping 
lords  of  Ulla  dispossessed  of  their  lands  on 
account  of  their  oppressions,  at  Daul  and  Feis, 
when  the  kings  meet  in  council  with  their  bre- 
hons  and  wise  ollavs.  Therefore,  I  care  not  for 
that  son  of  Uther,  for  over  me  he  has  no  power, 
nor  for  his  armed  men,  though  he  command  in 
war  thrice  seven  hundred  warriors,  the  battalion 
of  the  Mor-Tuath.  Nor  speak  to  me  concerning 
Cuculain  and  his  martial  necessities.  I  will  not 
receive  into  my  house  wandering  warriors,  save 
that  I  receive  a  reward,  and  increase  and  not 
diminishing  my  substance.  Therefore,  O  youth, 
hie  thee  on  to  the  bru-fir,  for  with  me  thou  shalt 
not  abide,  unless  I  receive  from  thy  hands  a 
goodly  pledge." 

Then  answered  Laeg  in  great  wrath  : — 
"  An  evil  time,  indeed,  will  it  be  for  the  Gael 
if  the  ollavs  and  their  wisdom  concur  to  plant 
among  us  such  shrubs  of  deadly  poison  as  thy- 
self,  O  vile  and  avaricious  stranger,   without 


A  PIONEER  167 

gratitude  or  nobleness  or  love  for  aught  save 
thy  miserable  accumulation  of  sorry  pelf.  But 
this  time,  assuredly,  thou  shalt  not  be  base  with 
exultation,  for  out  of  thy  possessions  thou  shalt 
afford  food  and  shelter  to  the  steeds  of  the  noble 
Cuculain,  and  to  myself  also,  and  receive  a  severe 
chastisement  at  my  hands." 

Therewith,  then  the  son  of  Riangabra  chas- 
tised him  fiercely  with  a  knotted  scourge,  so 
that  Caelshanig  fled  howling  from  the  highway, 
and  passed  through  the  bawn  and  the  courtyard, 
and  out  into  fields  in  which  his  slaves  toiled, 
while  Laeg  pursued  with  many  a  stripe  upon 
his  bare  limbs  as  he  flew.  He  cried  to  his  people 
for  assistance,  and  they  came  together,  but 
they  feared  to  approach  the  fierce  charioteer 
of  Cuculain.  Moreover,  they  loved  not  the 
man.  Then  Laeg  seized  him,  and  bore  him 
weeping  and  protesting  to  the  house.  Now  in 
the  courtyard  was  a  pile  of  ferns  and  rushes, 
which  bullocks  had  drawn  thither  with  ropes, 
and  Laeg  took  therefrom  a  strong  rope,  and 
whipped  him  into  a  byre,  and  made  him  fast 
to  the  roof-tree,  nor  treated  him  with  much 
gentleness.  Then  he  hastened  out,  and  gave 
orders  to  the  slaves,  and  they  obeyed  him  swiftly, 
for  very  wrathful  was  the  son  of  Riangabra, 


l68  IN    THE    GATES    OF    THE    NORTH 

and  a  bright  colg  of  glittering  bronze  'hung  by 
his  side. 

After  this  Laeg  led  the  steeds  of  Cuculain 
within  the  bawn,  and  released  them  from  the 
chariot,  and  washed  them  carefully,  and  ap- 
plied salves  and  lotions  to  the  feet  of  the  wounded 
steed.  Then  he  stabled  and  bedded  his  horses, 
and  bade  the  slaves  pour  abundantly  barley 
two  years  old  into  their  feeding  troughs,  and  fill 
the  mangers  with  fresh  hay.  Meantime  the 
artificers  in  metal  came  about  the  chariot  under 
the  light  of  torches,  and  a  loud  din  arose  from 
the  labours  of  the  skilful  craftsmen.  When  this 
work  was  ended,  and  the  chariot  was  washed 
and  dried  and  polished,  they  drew  it  within  the 
chariot-house  with  all  its  warlike  furniture,  and 
Laeg  shut-to  the  strong  oaken  doors  and  locked 
them,  and  returned  to  the  house. 

There,  before  a  huge  fire,  the  son  of  Rian- 
gabra  feasted  on  the  good  things  of  the  place, 
eating  roast  flesh,  with  boiled  roots  and  butter 
and  the  white  curd  of  milk,  and  drinking  much 
ale.  Without,  in  the  byre,  the  miserable  man 
wept  in  silence,  for  he  feared  lest  the  charioteer 
might  slay  him,  being  so  impetuous.  Never- 
theless, he  added  up  in  his  mind  the  corp-dira. 
and  the  eric,  and  the  enechlan,  for  he  was  ever 


A  PIONEER  169 

a  slave  to  avaricious  thoughts.  All  the  heavy 
fine  he  computed  very  accurately,  though  there 
were  pains  in  his  bones,  and  dire  agony,  and  his 
limbs  were  bloodied  and  torn  where  the  fierce 
charioteer  had  cut  him  with  the  knotted  scourge. 
He  grieved  much  now  that  he  was  not  a  flaut 
of  the  tuath,  for  then  would  the  enechlan  be 
much  more  abundant,  for  the  insult  offered  to  a 
noble  might  not  be  wiped  out  without  an  honour- 
price  far  heavier  than  was  customary  in  the  case 
of  a  plain  freeman  of  the  tuath,  though  his  wealth 
might  be  great.  And  this  was  the  reason  why 
he  had  not  attained  the  rank  of  a  noble,  for  no 
possessor  of  soil  how  wealthy  soe'er  he  might 
be,  was  entitled  to  be  proclaimed  a  flaut  of  the 
tuath  unless  he  had  amongst  those  that  held 
land  under  him  ten  tenants  at  least  who  should 
be  free  law,  that  is  to  say,  for  each  portion  of 
land  capable  of  feeding  twenty -one  cows,  the 
tributes  which  the  man  correctly  enumerated 
as  the  due  out  of  every  townland  to  the  lord 
of  the  soil.  Therefore,  Caelshanig  established 
around  him  only  fudirs  and  bodacs,  whose  tri- 
butes were  not  under  the  protection  of  the 
law,  by  which  means  he  became  wealthy  indeed, 
but  continued  ignoble,  not  having  a  generous 
mind,  which  thing— namely,  that  he  had  not 


170  IN   THE   GATES   OF   THE   NORTH 

taken  out  his  flautship  in  the  tuath,  now  grieved 
him  in  his  computations.  Moreover,  in  his 
churlishness  he  was  not  wise,  for  he  knew  not 
the  usages  of  war,  and  the  suspension  of  the 
strict  law  in  the  imminence  of  danger,  and  the 
necessities  of  brave  warriors,  by  whose  prowess 
alone  might  all  law  be  sustained  ;  therefore, 
even  in  his  avaricious  mind,  he  was  not 
wise.  . 

Now  Laeg  regarded  him  not  at  all,  but  lay 
down,  stretching  his  mighty  limbs  on  a  couch 
beside  the  fire,  for  it  was  cold,  and  his  great 
heart  was  somewhat  appeased,  only  he  was 
troubled  and  fretful  concerning  his  dear  master. 
For  this  reason  he  could  not  sleep,  but  tossed 
restlessly  from  side  to  side,  and  sometimes  he 
sat  up  and  then  again  lay  down,  being  troubled 
in  his  affectionate  heart,  for  besides  thinking 
upon  his  master,  his  mind  also  was  irritated  from 
the  conversation  of  Cselshanig,  and  from  con- 
tact with  that  grinding  and  avaricious  soul, 
which  exhibited  neither  courtesy  to  himself  nor 
reverence  for  Cuculain,  of  whom  he  ever  was 
accustomed  only  to  hear  praise.  Therefore  he 
could  not  sleep,  but  turned  restlessly  from  side 
to  side.  At  last  he  rose  and  went  out,  and, 
awaking  the  slaves,  inquired  concerning  the 


A  PIONEER 


I/I 


bard,  who  in  those  days  was  always  attached 
to  a  wealthy  house. 

Now  Caelshanig  delighted  not  at  all  in  the 
society  of  bards  and  harpers,  and  he  was  accus- 
tomed to  revile  that  sacred  order,  saying  that 
he  would  rather  see  a  weed  in  his  field  than  a 
poet  in  his  house.  Therefore  was  there  a  bitter 
enmity  between  the  Crithneean  and  the  singing 
men,  who  delighted  to  repeat  satiric  ranns 
concerning  Caelshanig,  and  to  furnish  amuse- 
ment thereby  to  those  who  were  not  pleased  at 
his  great  prosperity.  Nevertheless,  he  had  in  his 
service  a  druid  who  interpreted  for  him  dreams 
and  omens,  and  the  notes  of  wrens  and  ravens, 
and  who  taught  him  the  observances  which  were 
due  to  the  Shee,  that  they  might  be  favourable 
to  him  in  his  affairs,  and  this  druid  brought  to  his 
hearth  annually  the  sacred  fire  which  was  kindled 
upon  the  Druid's  Hill  at  Usna  of  the  great  con- 
gregations, and  he  himself  sent  regularly  thither 
the  dues  of  the  college  of  druids  of  Usna — to 
wit,  a  fat  swine  and  a  sack  of  corn,  or  their 
equivalents,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
times,  and  he  obeyed  implicitly  the  advice  of 
the  druid,  and  to  him  alone  he  was  generous, 
and  he  stood  greatly  in  awe  of  his  reproof,  and 
would  gape  around  him  in  his  druidic  obser- 


172  IN   THE    GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

vances,  though  to  his  dependents  and  others  he  was 
accustomed  to  be  overbearing  and  contemptuous. 

Hearing  this,  Laeg  bade  the  slaves  to  summon 
to  him  whatever  bard  dwelt  nearest,  bidding 
them  tell  the  bard  who  it  was  desired  his  society, 
Laeg,  son  of  Riangabra,  the  esquire  and  chario- 
teer of  Cuculain.  The  slaves  set  forth  joyfully 
upon  that  quest.  In  the  meantime  Laeg  busied 
himself  about  the  steeds,  for  their  welfare  was 
ever  the  nighest  to  his  mind,  and  after  that  he 
returned  to  the  house.  Ere  long  the  slaves  re- 
turned, bringing  with  them  Anabind,  a  skilful 
harper,  whose  liss  was  by  the  roadside  further 
to  the  south,  and  he  was  a  descendant  of  Cir, 
who  followed  Heber  and  Heremon  out  of  Espan, 
and  delighted  the  children  of  Milith  in  the  palace 
of  Heremon,  at  Arget-Ros,  upon  the  Nore. 
Having  his  harp  strapped  upon  his  shoulder, 
Anabind  came  to  the  liss,  and  from  its  place  in 
the  wall  he  took  the  door-staff  and  smote  upon 
the  door ;  the  charioteer  opened  it  and  stood 
huge  in  the  narrow  entrance,  and  received  the 
sacred  bard  joyfully.  Then  he  drew  forth  more 
ale  in  a  great  vessel,  ashen,  with  a  border  of 
white  findruiney,  and  distributed  to  the  bard 
and  to  himself. 

Meantime  the  harper  tuned  his  harp,  and  Laeg 


A   PIONEER 


173 


sat  down,  gazing  into  the  red  embers,  holding 
his  auburn  head  between  his  great  hands  ;  out- 
side in  the  bawn  the  slaves  pressed  close  against 
the  wattled  walls,  listening  to  the  heart-sub- 
duing lays.  Then  for  Laeg  the  bard  sang  tales 
of  ancient  heroes,  of  elopements  and  courtships, 
of  battles  and  nocturnal  assaults,  and  of  the 
conflagration  of  noble  duns,  touching  the  harp 
as  he  chanted,  with  a  musical  voice,  well  modu- 
lated, for  he  was  carefully  trained,  and  had 
studied  his  art  for  many  years  in  the  south, 
where  they  excelled  in  recitation  and  the  manage- 
ment of  the  voice.  His  own  soul,  too,  was  sweet 
and  noble  so  that  he  felt  the  power  of  the  things 
concerning  which  he  sang,  and  Laeg  nodded  with 
his  head,  keeping  time  to  the  measure  of  the  chant. 

While  the  bard  still  sang  the  morning  dawned, 
stealing  in  through  the  narrow  windows,  and 
Laeg  took  from  his  arm  a  bracelet  of  gold,  and 
gave  it  to  the  bard. 

Then  Laeg  went  forth  quickly  and  harnessed 
his  horses,  and  yoked  his  chariot,  and  fared 
southwards.  He  passed  the  house  of  the  bru- 
fir  and  entered  on  a  wide  plain,  which  was  the 
public  land  of  that  tuath.  The  house  of  the 
bru-nr  was  on  the  edge  of  the  plain,  and  many 
houses  surrounded  it,  and  the  authority  of  the 


174  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

bra-fir  was  over  these.  His  Forus,  too,  was 
opened,  and  he  sat  and  adjudicated,  though  the 
sun  had  but  just  risen.  All  matters  relating 
to  the  public  land  were  brought  before  him,  and 
questions  relating  to  trespass,  and  the  main- 
tenance of  fences,  and  roads,  and  small  differ- 
ences arising  between  man  and  man.  More- 
over, in  his  Forus  was  the  king  of  the  tuath 
inaugurated,  and  the  tanist,  and  here  was  to 
adopt  the  laws  decided  on  by  the  king  and  the 
tuath  to  elect  the  officers  of  that  small  realm, 
and  held  the  tocomrah  of  all  the  free  citizens 
of  the  saba  of  his  lords  and  ollavs. 

But  the  arbitrament  of  the  wise  bra-fir  was 
not  now  a  care  to  Laeg  nor  the  hospitality  of  that 
house  where  preparation  was  made  each  day 
for  the  entertainment  of  strangers,  and  he  fared 
forward  swiftly  across  that  plain,  and  dashed 
through  the  Oun  Glieda,  and  never  tarried  ;  and 
it  was  evening  when  he  came  in  sight  of  the 
Avon  Dia.  Ere  he  reached  the  ford,  the  Liath 
Macha  pulled  violently  to  the  left,  and  with 
difficulty  did  Laeg  restrain  him,  and  drave  on 
to  the  ford.  When  he  came  to  the  river  he  saw 
the  splintered  weapons  and  the  trampled  shores, 
and  he  saw  blood  upon  the  stones,  and  the  great 
pebbles  that  had  been  displaced  by  Cuculain,. 


A  PIONEER  175 

and  he  drave  through  the  ford,  and  across  the 
smooth  plain.  When  he  saw  the  camp  of 
Meave,  south  westward,  he  wheeled  round  the 
steeds  and  returned  to  the  ford.  About  a  stone's 
cast  from  the  ford  there  was  a  woman  weeping 
over  a  new-made  grave.  Laeg  approached  her, 
and  inquired  concerning  the  marks  of  combat 
there.  The  woman  looked  up  between  her 
tears  and  torn  dishevelled  hair,  and  said  : — 

'  There  many  brave  warriors  of  the  host  of 
Meave  have  been  slain  by  the  invincible  Cuculain, 
whose  right  hand  that  slew  Far-Cu,  would  that 
the  wolves  of  the  land  were  devouring  this 
night.  To-day  he  hath  slain  Fardia,  son  of 
Daman,  of  the  Firbolgs,  and  men  say  that  he 
will  not  survive  until  the  morrow,  but  will  perish 
alone  in  his  bloody  lair.  O  sun  and  strong  wind, 
slay  him  without  pity  !  " 

Laeg  trembled  when  he  heard  the  voice  of  the 
woman  and  saw  her  countenance  disfigured  with 
revenge  and  sorrow,  for  she  was  young  and  not 
uncomely,  and  he  gave  rein  to  the  Liath  Macha, 
endlessly  straining  forward,  having  a  thought  in 
his  eager  mind,  and  crossed  again  the  Avon 
Dia,  and  under  the  guidance  of  the  divine  steed, 
he  was  borne  through  the  dark  alleys  of  the 
forest,  by  many  winding  and  devious  ways. 


176  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NORTH 

bordered  with  trees  and  dense,  impenetrable 
scrub,  a  labyrinthine  maze,  and  at  length  he 
heard  the  whinnying  of  horses,  to  which  the  war- 
steeds  responded,  making  an  echo  in  the  hollow 
forest,  and  on  a  sudden,  lo  !  a  grassy  glade  open, 
to  the  stars,  and  there  the  yellow  steeds  of  Emer, 
Wave  Mane,  and  White  Star,  and  a  young  man 
standing  between  them  with  drooped  head  and 
his  arms  around  the  neck  of  the  horses. 

Laeg  sprang  from  the  chariot,  and  ran  towards 
him,  for  he  recognised  the  form  of  Cuculain, 
calling  him  by  his  own  name,  Setanta.  But 
there  was  no  answer  from  Cuculain,  and  no  smile 
upon  his  lips.  At  first  he  was  affrighted,  but 
after  that  looked  sorrowfully  without  recog- 
nition upon  Laeg  with  wild  eyes  full  of  suffering. 
Laeg  uttered  a  loud  and  bitter  cry,  and  fell  upon 
the  ground,  and  tore  his  auburn  hair,  and  he 
remained  at  the  feet  of  Cuculain  weeping  for  a 
long  time,  grovelling  low  upon  the  ground  ;  and 
the  divine  steeds,  too,  of  Cuculain  were  distressed 
bowing  their  splendid  heads,  and  the  long  mane 
of  the  Liath  Macha  flowed  upon  the  ground. 
After  that  Laeg  arose,  still  weeping  and  let  down 
the  war-car,  spreading  rugs  and  skins,  and 
washed  and  bound  up  his  wounds,  and  took 
from  the  chariot  clean  linen,  and  made  a  bed  for 


A  PIONEER 


177 


Cuculain,  and  Cuculain  obeyed  him  in  all  things 
like  a  young  child,  being  very  gentle  and  sub- 
missive, and  Laeg  took  the  head  of  Cuculain  and 
held  it  in  his  breast,  the  head  that  all  Erin  could 
not  abase  or  dishonour  and  wept  anew  over  his 
dear  lord. 

Three  days  and  three  nights  wept  Laeg  beside 
his  couch,  hearing  afar  the  noise  of  Heave's 
host  wasting  Murthemney ;  and  ever  between 
his  tears  he  spake  to  Cuculain  of  old  boyish 
days,  when  they  were  together  at  Dun  Dalgan, 
and  of  that  raid  upon  the  Bregians,  when  they 
carried  off  the  daughter  of  Manah,  the  haughty 
bru-fir,  and  of  the  honour  in  which  he  was  held 
by  the  Red  Branch,  soothing  in  every  way  his 
troubled  spirit,  hoping  that  somewhere  through 
the  clouds  of  suffering  some  ray  of  light  and  hope 
might  penetrate  to  warm  and  illumine  his  dark 
spirit.  On  the  third  day,  at  even,  Cuculain 
sat  up  and  looked  at  Laeg,  and  put  his  two  hands 
upon  his  shoulders,  and  kissed  him  ;  and  the 
Liath  Macha  came  near,  and  Cuculain  smiled 
and  stroked  his  face.  And  the  same  evening 
Laeg  heard  voices,  and  felt  strange  presences 
around  the  son  of  Sualtam,  and  retreated  into 
the  shadows  of  the  forest,  cowering  amongst 
the  trees.  For  a  swift  word  had  traversed  all 

N 


178  IN    THE    GATES    OF   THE    NOETH 

Erin,  coming  upon  the  pure  blasts  of  the  wind 
to  every  fairy  rath  and  glen  and  sacred  hill,  and 
the  ancient  plains  of  tomb  and  temple  and  with 
one  accord  the  happy  Shee  came  forth  out  of 
Fairyland,  out  of  Tir-na-n-ogue,  where  they  live 
in  bliss,  consuming  the  "  feast  of  age."  From 
Usna,  and  Tlatga,  and  Tailteen  ;  from  Cruhane, 
and  Tara,  and  Awlin ;  from  Gowra,  Knock 
Ainey,  Dunamarc,  and  Bru-Liah ;  Adair  and 
Lahran,  and  Oileen  Arda  Nemed ;  from  Bru- 
na-Boy-na,  and  Tu-Inver,  and  Fionnahah,  of 
Slieve  Fuad,  Slieve  Blahma  of  the  Lahyees,  and 
Slieve-na-man  Fionn  of  the  Osree ;  came  the 
Shee  of  the  ancient  Fomoroh  out  of  the  west, 
and  the  Shee  of  the  Firbolgs  ;  came  Ceasair,  the 
hoary  queen,  paling,  melting  into  the  air  before 
the  growing  glory  of  the  Tuatha  De  Danan; 
even  she,  though  smit  to  death,  wan  and  faded 
as  the  moon  struck  by  the  beams  of  the  rising 
sun,  came  with  her  waning  sovereignty  to  com- 
fort the  guileless  Cuculain. 

From  the  Shannon,  where  the  hills  are  dark 
above  the  waters  of  the  Red  Lake,  came  Bove 
Derg,  endlessly  grieving  for  his  grandchildren, 
the  cruelly  transformed.  They  indeed  came 
not,  for  the  cold  waters  of  the  Moyle  detained 
them,  where  they  wandered  swanlike — JEd  and 


A  PIONEER 


179 


Fiechra  and  comely  Conn,  and  Finoola,  their 
sister,  maternal  though  so  young.  They  them- 
selves came  not,  but  from  the  north  out  of  the 
sea  arose  a  slow,  sweet  fairy  music,  most  heart- 
piercing,  causing  tears.  Came  Lir  of  the  Shee 
Fionaha,  on  Slieve  Fuad,  whose  were  the  sweet 
children.  His  dominion  was  over  the  sea,  and 
he  lorded  it  over  the  lawless  sea.  Came 
Mananan,  the  son  of  Lir,  eastward  in  the  Muir- 
nict,  traversing  the  soft  waves  in  his  chariot 
drawn  by  fairy  steeds.  It  brake  not  a  bubble 
or  severed  a  wave-crest.  Came  the  warrior 
queen  of  the  Gael,  Badb,  and  Macha,  and  Moor- 
ega,  relaxing  their  stern  brows  above  the  couch 
of  Cuculain,  and  the  three  sweet  sisters,  Eire 
and  Fohla  and  Banba,  whose  gentle  names  are 
upon  Inis  Fail.  They  met  and  welcomed  the 
children  of  Milith,  what  time  having  consumed 
their  ships  they  marched  inland  to  subdue  the 
island.  Came  Brihid,  adored  by  the  bards, 
and  Angus  of  the  Brugh,  dazzling  bright,  round 
whom  flew  singing-birds,  purple-plumed,  and 
no  eye  sees  them,  for  they  sing  in  the  hearts  of 
youths  and  maidens.  Caine  Goibnen,  the  father 
of  craftsmen,  and  Eocha  Mac  Ere,  surnamed 
Ollav  Fohla,  and  the  Dagda  Mor,  who  ruled 
over  all  the  Tuatha  De  Danan,  from  his  green 


180  IN   THE   GATES    OF   THE   NORTH 

throne  above  the  waters  of  the  Boyne.  Came 
Ogma,  the  inventor  of  letters,  and  Coirpri  Kin 
Kaeth,  surnamed  Crom  and  Cruag,  "  the  stooping 
one,"  and  "  the  stern,"  whose  altar  was  upon 
Moy  Sleet  when  the  Talkend,  cross-bearing,  with 
his  clerics,  came  to  Inis  Fail.  All  the  blessed 
Shee  throughout  Erin  came  that  night  to  honour 
the  Hound  of  Murthemney,  and  Cuculain  saw 
them  all,  plainly,  face  to  face,  as  man  speaking 
with  his  friend,  benign  countenances  and  vene- 
rable, high  hearts  made  pure  and  noble  by  death, 
out  of  Fairy  Land,  where  they  dwell  in  bliss, 
inspiring  and  correcting  the  minds  of  the  Gael. 
As  when  to  a  child  weeping  in  the  night,  his 
parents  appear  with  soothing  hands  and  words 
so  that  night  around  the  mighty  Cuculain 
appeared  the  blessed  Shee,  speaking  words  of 
comfort  and  of  praise,  and  Cuculain  conversed 
with  the  Tuatha  De  Danan,  being  noble  of  heart 
like  themselves.  And  Laeg  saw  them  not,  but 
he  felt  the  awful  presence,  and  crouched  deeper 
into  the  shadows,  veiling  his  eyes  with  his  hands, 
for  he  feared  lest  he  should  be  smitten  with 
blindness  or  struck  suddenly  dead,  seeing  with  his 
eyes  the  blessed  Shee.  After  that,  Cuculain 
fell  into  a  deep  sleep,  without  a  dream,  that 
lasted  for  the  space  of  a  day  and  a  night. 


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